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“I’m home.” Utahime says as she slips off her brown boots and carefully sets them aside. She spots the other shoes at the genkan, a pair of small white trainers, tucked neatly into the corner, and a pair of black boots left askew. Utahime sighs as she tides the boots and sets it next to hers.
She pulls her gloves off her fingers, stuffing them into her coat pocket to make sure she doesn’t forget them. The sound of the TV plays in the background, as Utahime sets down her bags and hangs her coat by the door. She notices the keys hanging as she sets her pair on her designated hook, one out of the four still missing.
Utahime turns on the hallway light before making her way towards the living room. The apartment shrouded in darkness with only the main light shining at the end of the hall.
“Gojo! Don’t leave-“
There’s no sign of her lanky junior.
Instead it’s just the black haired child she has come to look after. He’s sitting with his feet under the warm kotatsu, warming his body in the winter night. The TV is playing a cartoon she doesn’t recognise, but she’s glad it’s not something he shouldn’t be watching.
He looks back at her, a tiny smile growing on his face and a small mug in his hands.
“Utahime.” Megumi says in the polite tone he tends to use with her. “Welcome back.”
He pushes himself off the table and walks towards the cabinet, getting onto his tip toes as he reaches for a tea cup.
“Ah, Megumi!” She hurries over to try and stop him, “You don’t have to do that!”
But he’s already filling the cup with some green tea and setting it on the kotatsu. He doesn’t say anything, just tucks himself back under the table blanket and continue to watch the colours on the screen.
“Is Tsumiki not home yet?” She asks, as she takes a sip of the warm tea. A feeling much needed after biking in the cold on the way to this apartment. Utahime wraps her fingers around the cup to warm her hands.
“She’s sleeping over at her friend’s house today.” His eyes don’t leave the television.
“Oh, so just three of us today?” She looks around for any other signs of Gojo, but the apartment feels rather dead. “Where’s that idiot?”
Just as she asks for him, he emerges from the bathroom.
“Utahime! You’re here!” He comes over with arms open, to which she only pulls a face. He tucks his arms back to his sides as he sits himself beside his senior. Gojo pouts, “Why didn’t you walk here with me?”
“None of your business!” She’s aghast at the assumption that she’d want to spend extra time with him. “Why would I want to go anywhere with you?”
“Oh but it’s romantic. We could hold hands, keep them warm in my pocket. We could eat ice cream!”
“In this weather?”
“I could feed it to you.”
“Pass.” She groans at the imagery.
Utahime takes a sip of her hot tea before standing up and reaching for the apron on the back of one of the dining chairs. She pulls her hair up in a ponytail to get it out of her face while she preps to cook. In the corner of her eye, she catches Gojo staring at her.
“What?” She glares back at him.
It takes a second before he gulps and takes a swig of Utahime’s tea. He loves looking at her like this, like she’s in charge and ready for anything. She’s only preparing to cook at yet something about her aura makes him want to pull her aside and kiss her. He shakes his head to get rid of the image.
“Nothing.” He almost stutters on the word.
“Have you thought about what you want to eat Megumi?” The fridge is packed. Gojo did say in his text that he’d be going to the grocery with the kid after they’re both done with school. Utahime hums disapprovingly as she spies a little too many sweets shoved into one corner.
“It’s Gojo’s turn to cook.” Megumi says as he faces Utahime.
“What! Megumi! You should’ve just let her do it!” The white haired man’s face showing the full scale of betrayal. He presses his palm to his chest like he’s been shot through the heart.
“You’re lazy.”
“After everything I’ve done for you Megumi!” He sighs in agony, “I can’t believe it. My own ward.”
“Oh.” Utahime looks over at the calendar, noting down that it’s Friday instead of Thursday like she thought. “I must have gotten the days wrong.”
She peels the apron off of herself and stands behind the sitting Gojo. Veiling the apron over him and looping the bands around his neck. She places two hands to his shoulder as if to straighten out invisible creases. When he tips his head backwards slightly to present his pout to her, he is only greeted with a smile that is nothing more than a cheeky snipe, something he’s glad he manages to catch.
“Thank you.”
“Can I get a kiss with that?” His eyes follow her as grabs a hold of her tea cup and moves away from him.
“You may not.”
“It will motivate me.”
“It’s your day to cook. You’ll have to do it whether you want to or not.” After refilling her cup, she sits herself back down next to Megumi. “Plus, Megumi likes your cooking.”
“He also likes yours.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“Gojo makes good oden.” Megumi says as he passes the television remote to Utahime.
“That’s all store bought items!”
She finds him standing in front of her apartment.
Since she graduated from Jujutsu Tech, Utahime has been renting an apartment not too far from the college. A small one bedroom with enough space for her in the living room to stretch her legs and lay down to stare at the ceiling for a little too long.
“Utahime.”
She puts her arm out in between them to stop him from coming any closer.
“What do you want from me?”
She’s known him for long enough to know not to let the conversation go for too long unless she wants him to talk her ear off. But something is different today, there’s a panic in his eyes that she’s never seen before. He’s trying to cover it with a hyper confident expression as he looks down at her and peers over his dark black glasses.
“Maybe I just wanted to invite myself in.” He’s trying to be slick and she is not having any of it.
“No.”
“This is why you don’t have a boyfriend.”
Utahime doesn’t even attempt a comeback, instead she reaches for the doorknob and pulls the door close. “Goodbye Gojo.”
But his hand stops the door. It hits the metal with a loud bang that takes her aback. She thinks it must have hurt, with the amount of pressure he is using to keep the door open. Utahime lets go of the door, stepping backwards to let Gojo say his piece.
“I need a favour.”
His expression is completely different as he runs his hand through his ruffled white hair. His eyes drop as he avoids her gaze and tries to look anywhere else.
“… a favour?” She doesn’t try to hide her surprise. “From me?”
“Please.”
She has never heard him beg. Not to her. Not so seriously. He’s asked for her help before, looking into something for missions or more frequently, in a joking fashion with exaggerated puppy dog eyes. But this is definitely a new one.
“Please?” She repeats in shock, “Are you alright Gojo? What’s wrong?”
“I wouldn’t ask if I could handle it.”
“I’ll help. Don’t worry, whatever it is, I’ll help.”
Utahime pulls on him arm before she can register herself doing it. Taking him by his wrist and dragging him into the living door as the door clicks shut behind them. She sits him down on her small couch while she rummages through her kitchen for some mugs.
“I should’ve asked for your help a long time ago if it meant I could get into your place this easily.” He manages to snigger as he leans into the sofa.
“Are you messing with me?” She almost drops the cups as her shoulders drop and the disappointment starts to wash over her.
But before she can kick him out of her place, he confesses, “I wish I was.”
“Well, then tell me what’s happening.”
“I have two kids to take care of.”
She really drops the mugs this time. Luckily she had yet to put any hot water in them and they merely roll on the floor. Reaching down for them, she awaits for him to continue the story.
“Don’t get any weird ideas, they’re not mine.” Gojo defends himself when he sees his senior make strange eyes at him, “I promised to take care of them. Their parents are gone.”
“Where to?”
“I didn’t even really know them.” He shrugs, “But the boy is a Zenin.”
“Does he know?”
“I’ve told him enough.” He twiddles his thumbs as Utahime comes back with warm tea. Gojo takes a deep breath, leaning into the seat as he lets it swallow him. He puts his hand under his glasses and rubs the stress out of his eyes. “but I’m only 18 and I don’t know how to deal with kids.”
“Oh.”
“What?” He lifts his hand from his eyes, peering up at Utahime.
“You care about them. You wouldn’t ask for help if you didn’t.”
“I have a heart, thank you very much.”
“First I’ve heard of it.” She takes a sip of her tea. “Did you ask Shoko?”
“Yaga’s already making her do so much since she’s such a big help around these parts.”
Utahime has seen just how much work Shoko has to do. Even though her junior has yet to graduate, her training is a little tougher than others. No fighting and yet, she has the job of staying up and being on call whenever needed in order to help heal others.
“Plus, I’d rather it be you.” Gojo stares at his tea, watching bubbles float to the top. “You want to work with kids one day right? Be a teacher or something?”
Utahime takes a pause. Surprised that he knows even that much about her.
“How do you know that?”
He ignores her question, instead asking his own. “Will you help me please?”
“Of course, Gojo.” She places a hand on his. “Of course I will.”
Dinner is sukiyaki.
Gojo refusing to make oden after he reveals that he did not buy any ready made mochi kinchaku earlier at the store, an item he deems imperative to the dish. Otherwise translated as, Gojo’s favourite ingredient of the dish.
But the sweetness of a sukiyaki fares better with Gojo’s sweet tooth compared to an oden’s dashi broth.
Utahime helps set up the portable stove and the cast iron pot in the middle of the dining table while the seven year old practices washing vegetables and his guardian cuts them up into easy bite size pieces.
The pot bubbles and steams as the ingredients get soft and cooked through. Utahime offers Megumi to crack the eggs for them as she pulls out three dipping bowls. He accepts, more eager than he wants to let on. One for each person, he uses all his concentration to make sure no shells fall into the bowls. Two come out perfect, with Gojo left to pick out shell bits from his raw egg.
Both young adults let the child take first pick. Megumi leans over the simmering pot as his eyes wonder the ingredients, instantly reaching for a perfectly cooked strip of beef which he then dips into the raw egg and gobbles up with some white rice. Before Utahime takes any of her own meat, she picks up some vegetables, placing them into both Gojo and Megumi’s plate to make sure they eat some. They both pout as they force themselves to eat it.
Megumi isn’t much of a speaker, both Utahime and Gojo were fast to realise. It isn’t that he has problems speaking, it’s more that he just doesn’t want to. Not up to the point where it’s awkward, he’s always cordial and polite when Utahime is around. And when she’s not, everything comes out with a disapproving tone when aimed at Gojo.
But with good food, it seems to always help him join the conversation more often. Always letting them know if he likes something or if he doesn’t. Asking to be taught how to cook something if he particularly likes it. Or asking Utahime how her day was and when she’s next going to come over.
The pot is completely empty when they’re done. Gojo lies on the floor as he groans with a belly full of food while the other two start putting the plates away.
Whoever doesn’t cook has to clean. And though what Gojo has prepared isn’t exactly cooking, he uses the time to set out to the convenient store to buy them all some ice cream.
“Hey Megumi.” Utahime hands him the wet bowl. “I need to tell you something.”
“Okay” Is all he says as he dries the bowl with a kitchen towel before setting it onto the drying rack. Just the spoons and chopsticks, then they’re all done.
“I’m going to be moving to Kyoto soon.”
There’s a strange silence as he freezes up. His hand stopping mid drying up a soup and his face going blank for a second. The sound of the tap running and the television playing in the background growing louder and louder as the silence drags on.
Utahime stops the water before turning to the child. He’s wearing an expression she hasn’t seen on him yet, one a little more sullen than his usual reserved look. It’s more than he usually shows on his face, a little twitch of his nose and the ever so subtle furrowing of his eyebrows.
But before she can reach down and place a comforting hand on his shoulder, the boy shakes the emotions off of him. Continuing his chores as he hides his face under his hair even more.
“Will you still visit?” His voice still stable.
“Of course.” She tries to cover her worries with a smile. “I’ll come back whenever I can.”
“You promise?”
“Of course I will. I’ll come every other weekend if I can.”
“What are you doing there?”
“I’m going to be a teacher. At the Kyoto school.” The chopsticks in her hand have her name carved into it. Gojo bought one for all of them to make sure they each have their own personal pair in this apartment to call their own. “It’s like the school me and Gojo go to, except a little farther out.”
She hands them to Megumi, drying her hands and bending down to his level.
“Will you come visit me?” She asks with a smile.
“Can I?” His face lights up.
“Of course!” The question is ridiculous, but she knows that he would probably like some reassurance. “My family has a house there, stay whenever you’d like.”
“Thank you.”
He finishes up and meets Utahime back at the kotatsu, the instant warmth a welcoming feeling after washing his hands with cold water.
“And you’ll still have Gojo here, he is your guardian after all.”
The boy makes a face.
“Don’t worry,” she laughs, “he cares about you a lot.”
The very devil slams the heavy metal door and the whizzing sound of the heavy wind follows. He walks in with a big smile and too many plastic bags in both hands.
“What are you guys talking about?” He says as he enters the room.
“You don’t need to know.”
“Were you talking about me? Did you miss me?”
“We were not.” She tries to change the subject, “And what is all this?”
“Snacks!” He says without a glimmer of guilt. Gojo starts pouring out the contents of his plastic bags onto the table. Too many bars of chocolate, in every version there is. Chocolate bars, strawberry coated biscuits, white chocolate dipped doughnuts. Utahime rolls her eyes at the sheer amount of items, like he just robbed the store. Much to her surprise, few packets of crisps are there too, which Gojo says are for when he needs to balance out the sweetness with some savoury.
Last are the ice creams, too many for just three of them to finish.
“This one is for you.” He passes him the simple vanilla and chocolate waffle sandwich, which thankfully Megumi does enjoy.
“This one is for you.” For Utahime, the fancier Haagen Dazs in a matcha flavour, picking a flavour with a slight bitterness knowing full well that she doesn’t do sweets very often. Gojo just wants to make sure she is included in all the fun.
“And this is for me.” An ice cream that is most definitely a seasonal flavour that will disappear as Spring comes around.
The rest of the ice cream get stuffed into their freezer, with barely enough space to fit it all. Gojo throws the other treats into designated drawers and cupboards before coming back to the table.
“Thank you Gojo.” Utahime says as she peels back lid and starts eating her treat.
Her eyes go wide as she glances at the clock striking nine. Her apartment is a little further out and it’ll take half an hour in the cold to arrive. But before she panics and excuses herself, she spies the scene that lays in front of her.
Gojo gesturing to something on the TV as he shout-explains something Megumi really doesn’t care about. The kid only nods along to make sure his guardian feels like he’s making a good point.
“How about I stay over tonight? I think I still have some spare clothes somewhere.” She announces as she stares at the child, chewing on the ice cream he holds with both hands, “Then we can make pancakes in the morning and then do whatever you want for the weekend.”
“Okay.” Megumi whispers without looking up, but Utahime can see the slight smile that is growing on his face.
“I’m sorry.”
A strong breeze blows and they both cling onto the hanging bedsheets so it doesn’t fly away. Gojo covers the hamper of freshly cleaned clothes with his body to make sure nothing escapes them. The smell of clean cotton cuts through the air as they clip the laundry onto the washing line, letting the wind dry them off.
“For what?” Utahime says through the translucent white, she’s nothing but a silhouette behind the sheet. He thought she didn’t hear him, the wind carrying his voice away and not letting them reach her ears. But instead she pulls back the sheet and looks him right in the eyes.
“For what?” She repeats.
“Burdening you.” The words tumble out of him. As he squats down to rummage through the basket, Gojo pulls out one of Megumi’s shirts. He remembers just how dirty it got after Megumi decided to walk home in the rain one day. The kid spent 2 days at home, with Gojo sitting at the foot of his bed 24/7 to make sure he really rested.
“Are you saying the kids are a burden?” An old plastic peg snaps in her fingers as she tries to clip an article of clothing to it, it disintegrates in her palm.
“No but-“
“So helping you is a burden?” She throws the peg in the bin and looks for another.
“Is it not?”
“Don’t be a moron Gojo.” Utahime gestures him to throw another piece of clothes at her to hang, and soon the laundry is all finished.
They sit on the balcony for a while, Gojo grabbing cool drinks from the fridge for the both of them while they take the moment to rest. The sun beats down on them, both sure they’ll develop some sort of tan by the time the head back instead, but the cool breeze accompanies them and persuades them to stay.
“Is that all the chores for today?” Utahime leans her head back and closes her eyes, enjoying the summer day.
“Just dinner left. Let’s just order some pizza.”
“That’s a good idea.” She hums in agreement.
Gojo watches her, as she takes in the feeling of summer on her skin. The wind blowing through her shirt and her pigtails knocking against her shoulders. It’s rare that he gets to see her like this, taking her time with life and letting herself be in the moment.
He leans over, taking her face in his hand and plants a delicate kiss on her lips.
It’s nothing. Just the feeling of him on her for the slightest of seconds. But it feels like it drags on for much longer as she presses on and reciprocates with her own kiss.
“What was that for?” She asks when the pull apart. He’s surprised she hasn’t slapped him yet.
“I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“And have you ever thought if I wanted it or not?”
“Do you not?”
He moves back slightly, afraid that he has acted merely on impulse and overstepped his boundaries. There were signals, he could say, signs that told him maybe she wants this too. But maybe his brain just read into it too much, convinced himself that she feels the same way. His mind starts to over heat before she punches his arm.
“That’s not the point!”
She’s gone red, turning away from him as she tries to catch her breath.
“So you did want it?” He moves back closer to her, his skin up against hers. He takes her by the chin and makes her look back at him.
“Stop it Gojo!”
They pull away with pink cheeks and too many thoughts in their heads. Gojo takes a big gulp of his drink while Utahime readjusts her pigtails.
“I …” love you. Want to be with you. Want to stay with you. Need you to never leave me. He doesn’t know what to fill into the spaces his words can’t reach and yet all the words flood his mind. “want to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For taking care of the kids with me.”
“I’m only help, but they really do appreciate you being around. I can see it in the way they talk about you.”
“And you. They like you more than me.”
“They do not.”
“70/30”
“It's 50/50”
“Agree to disagree.”
“Is Utahime your girlfriend yet?”
Gojo doesn’t take his eyes away from the TV, it’s a simple gameshow with a bunch of B-list celebrities. “I don’t think we need to put a label on it.”
“I think she doesn’t like you.” Megumi says as he pulls out his pencil case from his bag along with a few sheets of paper.
“Oh, she likes me alright.” He tries his best to look the child in his eyes, but Megumi’s eyes are glued to his Math homework. “You just don’t understand ‘cause you’re four.”
“I’m seven.”
“Same thing.” Gojo waves his hand to dismiss him.
“What if she gets a boyfriend?”
There’s a pause and Gojo instantly turns the television off. He glances at the bathroom door to make sure Utahime isn’t coming out from her bath anytime soon before he grills Megumi.
“Why would she get a boyfriend?” His self assurance slips as he stutters slightly over his words. He wants to have Megumi’s full attention and squeeze every ounce of information he has out of him. “Did she tell you something?”
“Tsumiki and the girls at school are always talking about boyfriends and getting married. It’s so boring.”
“D-did Utahime say something about a boyfriend?”
Megumi doesn’t indulge him in any more information, causing Gojo to want to pull out his hair.
“Are you gonna marry Utahime?”
“Yes.” He slams his hand on the table and says it with such confidence one would only take it as fact. “Most probably.”
“Do it soon. Make her live here so she doesn’t have to move away.”
“Ah.” He sighs a breath of relief. “So she told you that she’s moving.”
“She can stay in your room.”
“Of course, we’ll be married.”
Gojo puts down the remote and pushes the papers out of sight. He puts his hands on Megumi’s shoulders, he makes sure the kid is looking at him and not down at the table.
“Look, I don’t like it any more than you do kid.” He sighs at the heavy news, “But that’s the job she wants right now, I think it’ll make her happy.”
There’s a pause before Megumi attempts to look away again.
“Does she not want to stay with us?”
“What?” The question comes to him as a surprise. “She loves you two, what are you talking about? Don’t let her hear you say that, you’ll make her cry.”
Gojo ruffles the boys hair and flicks his forehead, making him rub the area as the slight pain grows.
“When she comes out, give her a hug and then finish your homework.” He rearranges the papers once more, “If you’re gonna miss her, ask her if you can sleep next to her tonight.”
“Okay.”
“You’ll see her again. I promise.”
“Okay.”
“But no funny business! That’s my girl.”
“Maybe I can be her boyfriend.” The seven year old murmurs under his breath.
Utahime comes out of the bathroom to Gojo almost strangling Megumi.