Chapter Text
The trio looked at their teacher incredulously. Did they hear him correctly?
Satoru speaks first, his tone is harsh but confused.
"You can't be serious."
Yaga Masamichi sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance at Satoru's disrespectful tone.
"You heard me correctly. You three are being sent undercover. For the foreseeable future. To a non-sorcerer school. Basic observation mission."
Suguru, who was looking better than he had in a long while, speaks up as well.
"if this is a simple observation mission, why are you sending all three of us? And why us specifically?"
Shoko quietly nods along with a bored look on her face. She did not possess a cursed technique that allowed her to fight, so she was very rarely dispatched to the field, and even then, she would remain by the sidelines to heal whoever was also on the mission.
"Because this mission requires Gojo's six-eyes to monitor the cursed energy fluctuations. Geto, you are not cleared for active duty yet, however, this mission does not require any exorcism anytime soon, so you are allowed to accompany him."
Yaga does not specify the reason why Suguru needs to accompany Satoru, although he doesn't need to, as both Suguru and Shoko seem to understand. He turns to Shoko.
"And you are joining them to keep them in line. That, and I'm sure you would rather continue your studies with your peers rather than have classes alone."
Satoru frowns at his teacher's words; what the hell was *that* supposed to mean? He doesn't need babysitters. He speaks up again, clearly displeased with the situation.
"This is ridiculous! What about actual missions? The second years both quit sorcery back in August! Apart from the fourth years, I’m the only one cleared for missions right now. And I don't need babysitters, what the hell, sensei?"
Suguru raises an eyebrow at him as if to ask, “Are you sure about that?”. Yaga's eyes narrow behind his glasses.
"Missions requiring your skills will still be assigned to you when needed. Your living arrangements have been prepared already. When I meant the foreseeable future, Gojo, I mean months, not just a few days. I'm sure you'll appreciate having Geto and Ieiri with you during that time."
Satoru scoffs, but he relents, knowing the truth behind his teacher's words. He would definitely go crazy after a week of isolation with only non-sorcerers for company. And he would miss his friends, so maybe their coming along would make this mission more bearable, not that he didn’t think the mission was anything but boring and a waste of his time. But maybe it would do Suguru some good... It hasn't been that long since the twins… And while he *was* getting better, a change of scenery and a bit of "normalcy" could be good for him. Maybe.
Yaga hands Suguru a folder containing all the information needed for the mission. Their residence turns out to be a small house two streets away from the school in question. Close enough for Satoru to keep an eye (or six) on the school grounds and its cursed energy. All in all, everything was planned to make their lives easier, probably because they knew Satoru would complain about such a "boring" mission.
"An assistant manager will come to collect you tomorrow at around four in the afternoon and you will begin this assignment on Monday."
Suguru frowns, reading through the document, but does not vocalize his discontentment. Yaga's words have a sense of finality to them, and arguing with him would be a waste of time.
Satoru is about to complain again when Suguru accepts the mission. This makes the former stare at him, annoyed that he’d accept it so fast, especially since he’s supposed to be suspended from missions.
Suguru shrugs at him, mumbling something about being sick of not helping. Which is stupid and wrong, Satoru thinks, because Suguru is *not* not helping. He’s getting better, not doing nothing. He wants to argue but now is not the time, because Yaga starts speaking again.
Yaga continues explaining the details of their mission, and the school they will be infiltrating, underlining the importance of maintaining their cover, towards both their future classmates and teachers. The only person at the school who is aware of the situation is the principal, who is also a Window.
. .
The trio made their way back to the dorms. The walk is surprisingly quiet, Satoru being too busy grumbling to fill the silence with his ramblings. He understands, objectively, why he has to go on this mission - He's the only one who can accurately notice minimal shifts in cursed energy over time. He understands that his role is to prevent a bigger risk if whatever cursed spirit or curse user is left to fester.
He doesn't, however, understand why both Suguru and Shoko need to accompany him - sure, he'll have more fun with them around, but it's not like he *needs* them to do this... right?
. .
It turns out, Satoru would soon discover, that he does not know how non-sorcerer seventeen-year-olds act.
. .
The following day, true to Yaga's words, an assistant manager came to collect them and their belongings at four in the afternoon, on the dot.
They'd spent all day packing up most of their things; clothes, toiletries, the essentials, and personal trinkets. They could always come back if they forgot anything, it's not like they were kicked out of the school, this was still their dorm after all, even if they wouldn’t live in it for the next few months.
Satoru, the others would come to realize, does Not like changes. He’d complained about everything ever since he woke up that morning. From having to pack up his things, to how his whole structure of living was being pulled from underneath his feet. He complained and complained and complained. His tone annoyed and light, but deep down, Satoru was truly bothered by the changes. After two years, he’d gotten used to his life: wake up, go to classes with only two other people in his grade, exorcise curses, sleep, repeat. He’d gotten used to living at the school, where there was a maximum of ten students in total, with a handful of teachers.
And he knew his life would change at some point: he’d graduate, he’d have to become the head of his clan, become a full-time sorcerer. But all those changes were planned; he was ready for them. He knew how his life would play out and he was fine with that.
There were a few things he didn’t agree with that the elders of his clan planned, his future marriage, for example, but that isn’t for a while yet. He will deal with that once he gets there.
No, what bothered him, right now, was that the higher-ups thought the best course of action for this mission, was to go undercover. To send him and his friends away from their current lives to play being non-sorcerers for who knows how long. Uprooting his habits and routine, making him pack up his things, his room, his home. It bothered him, because he didn’t have the time to adjust to the idea of the change before it happened. It was too sudden, and he didn’t like it. And Satoru was not Satoru if he wasn’t vocal about his distaste for the situation.
And so here they were, at the bottom of the stairs of the entrance to the school, their large bags piled up by their side at four in the afternoon, waiting on the car that would whisk them away from everything Satoru knew.
. .
The house they would reside in feels wrong, to Satoru at least. The others don’t mention anything negative. In fact, they comment on how «homey» and «welcoming» it was. Satoru found it irritating and unfamiliar. It was a modern house, on the older side, according to Suguru. A well-lived-in home, they said. Three bedrooms on the second floor, along with a bathroom. The first floor consists of a kitchen and a living room. The entire house is already furnished, and Satoru can tell immediately that it’s thanks to the school, because the furniture is the same as the dorms back at the technical college. A small respite for Satoru’s dislikes of changes, at least the furniture is familiar - and that alleviates a bit of stress from his shoulders, but not enough.
The other teens don’t mention Satoru’s sour mood, chalking it up to Satoru’s dislike for long and boring missions. The assistant manager reminds them to call her if they need anything. She gives them a small bow before she leaves. Shoko and Suguru bow back as a sign of respect. Satoru does not.
Shoko rolls her eyes at her friend’s behaviour before she walks upstairs to claim one of the rooms. The two boys follow suit.
. .
They end up ordering food that night, too tired from unpacking their things to cook. Shoko’s room turns out to be the biggest. Unsurprising, considering she got to pick first. Her room is in the far back of the hallway, across from her is Suguru’s room. His and Satoru’s rooms are approximately the same size and across from Satoru’s, the bathroom.
Satoru hates to admit it, but the house does start to feel warmer, now that their things are unpacked. It doesn’t feel as empty anymore, but it's not enough to make him okay with the situation. It would take a miracle for that to happen.
In the middle of dinner, Suguru excuses himself to make a phone call- He’d started a habit of visiting the twins he rescued whenever he could- so Satoru assumes he’s calling them.
While he wasn’t a fan of children in general, Satoru often joined him on those visits. Although, he didn’t really tag along for the twins. They were sweet, sure, but he really only tagged along to hang out with Suguru more. And if playing babysitter for two five-year-olds lets him do that, then so be it. It’s not like he’d get attached to them anyway.
Ever since that night, when Suguru had called him, exhausted and on the brink of doing something he’d regret, Satoru tried to be more present for him. It was hard, considering he was always away on missions, but he was trying. Suguru had been suspended from missions until they were sure his mental state was better, so, evidently, Satoru was overworked instead.
That had bothered Suguru, at first. He’d told him, the night after the mission while Satoru was lying in bed with him to check up on him, saying that Satoru was leaving him behind, becoming the strongest without him. He had been really out of it, exhausted mentally and physically, and he’d let it slip. Satoru told him firmly that he wasn’t, that he was simply holding the fort while Suguru got better so they could stay the strongest together. The other seemed to accept his words before he’d passed out by his side.
Ever since then, Suguru seemed to get better, spending more time with the twins while Satoru was away. They’d also started hanging out more in the evenings and late at night when he came back from his missions, resulting in Satoru falling asleep in Suguru’s bed more often than not. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he hadn’t gotten good sleep like that since their failed mission a year ago.
After dinner, the three of them ended up on the couch, piled up together as they watched a movie. Satoru sprawled on Suguru, and Shoko’s legs draped on Satoru’s. His mood improved significantly since they got to the house, but his face still betrays a tinge of annoyance. The mission would begin the next day, and Satoru knows he’s going to hate it.
. .
That night, Satoru doesn’t sleep - too on edge from all the changes he went through just today. He lays on his bed, six-eyes roaming the perimeter, lingering on the swirling cursed energies in the rooms next to him. He keeps fidgeting, he listens to the noises outside, every creak of the house, every car passing by. He notes them down in his mind, he tosses and turns. He wonders… if this mission is too soon for Suguru. He’d talked to him about what he was going through since the star-plasma mission… Since… Amanai passed.
He knows that Suguru was struggling with a deep-rooted hatred towards non-sorcerers- something gnarly he could barely control. He’d told Satoru that it started off small – a snowballing effect, he had said- and every little thing- every cursed spirit he had to swallow down, every mission, every injury… Haibara’s close call, Nanami quitting, Yuki’s theories… Everything added up and then the twins- Suguru had told him, one night, quiet and ashamed of himself, that he’d considered killing all of them. The entire village.
Satoru hadn’t looked at him any differently. That would’ve been hypocritical of him, he’d thought the same thing a year prior, after he’d collected Amanai’s body. He would’ve done it too, had Suguru not stopped him. He just held the younger tightly, murmuring words of understanding and how he wished he could’ve helped him sooner.
That hatred seemed to have calmed down since Suguru stopped taking on missions since he started taking care of the twins. He knows Suguru is strong- but is it too soon to throw him into a sea of normies? What if that brings back all the emotions he had been working through? What if it makes him bad again and Satoru isn’t enough to help him again? What if he’s not enough to make him stay?
Satoru tried to push away the thought- the memories of that night- and the thoughts of what could’ve happened if he’d been too slow. If Suguru hadn’t called him. Ever since then, he’d have this… nightmare- of Suguru snapping- turning his back on jujutsu society- turning his back on him. He shakes his head, willing the thoughts away, this isn’t about him: he doesn’t want Suguru to feel like that again and he’ll do his best to make sure of that.
At first, Satoru thought normalcy might help him get better, no missions, no cursed spirits, just… going to school with Shoko and him- but now that he had nothing else to do but think… He couldn’t help but worry about his friend. He’d have to check up on him more. Make sure he’s okay.
At around five in the morning, he gets up. He knows he won’t get any sleep tonight, so he might as well get productive.
He gets out of bed and makes his way downstairs, to the kitchen area. He finds that the school had the cupboards and fridge filled with food. None of which looked appetizing to him currently, he was craving something sweet, yet everything in there was healthy and nourishing. He picks out a few fruits and some cheese from the fridge.
After he’s done eating, he leaves the house to check out the surrounding area. He finds a convenience store and a grocery store a few streets away from their location, so they won’t have to go far for groceries, at least. He also goes to the school they’ll be infiltrating, taking in the cursed energy residuals of it and surveying for potential curses. Schools tend to be infested by them, he wouldn’t be surprised to find flyheads, at the very least.
But he doesn’t. There are no curses surrounding the school, no stray flyheads, and nothing stronger either. The complete lack of any cursed spirits around a school sets him on edge.
Schools, no matter what type, are usually surrounded by negative emotions: anxiety over grades, the occasional bullying, social anxieties… all those emotions fester and become cursed spirits. They are notorious for being cursed spirits hotspots alongside hospitals. But this school… he can’t sense anything off about the cursed energy residuals, which, in sorts, makes it wrong. There should be negative emotions building up in dark corners, slowly becoming cursed spirits. The fact that there are no festering negative emotions, no cursed spirits already formed, is making alarm bells ring in his mind. Maybe this mission won’t be a total waste of time after all…
It's at around 7:45 that he makes his way back to the house. Both Shoko and Suguru are awake at this time, both dressed in a school uniform- different from their usual Tokyo Tech. ones- another change- It’s weird to see Suguru in pants that aren’t extremely baggy.
They stare at him with what he assumes is irritation. Shoko speaks first, crossing her arms.
“You look like shit. Where were you?”
Suguru adds, sounding concerned.
“Long night? Did you even sleep?”
Satoru scoffs at Shoko, sassing her back.
“What are you, my mother? I just checked out the area.” And then he lies- he knows they know he’s lying but he can’t help it. “Yeah, I slept like, what fffffive hours?”
They both gave him an unimpressed look, and Suguru sighed. Satoru brushed them off, claiming he needed to get ready for the day. Shoko lets him know he has twenty minutes before she leaves him here. Suguru follows him up the stairs, most likely to berate him for lying and not sleeping.
He doesn’t. Instead, he lays down on Satoru’s bed while the latter looks for the stupid uniform in his closet. Suguru starts speaking quietly while Satoru finds what he’s looking for.
“Satoru… You could’ve come into my room last night… if you couldn’t sleep.”
Before Satoru can say anything, Suguru continues:
“I’m serious. You need to sleep, even if you can use RCT now, it’s not a cure-all. You need rest too.” He pauses. “And don’t say anything about not wanting to bother me, I’ll hit you.”
Satoru stares at Suguru for a moment, a bit flustered at being read so openly. He turns his head with a scoff, changing into the new uniform. It's itchy. It’s… too soft? The texture is weird. He can’t explain it. The Tokyo tech. uniform was highly customizable, and the material was supple and breathable so they could complete their mission without restraining their movements.
This new uniform, however, seemed to be made specifically of the worst materials, so that it's somehow everything Satoru hates about clothes, all at the same time. He pulls at the jacket when he speaks.
“I’ll be fine, just needed to get used to the house. I’ll sleep fine tomorrow.” He smirks a little, trying to brush away the feeling of the uniform. “But if you’re trying to get me in your bed, all you have to do is ask Sugu-boo.”
Suguru sighs and rolls his eyes at Satoru’s tone.
“Fuck you, I’m trying to be nice here. I can see how much everything is bothering you right now… Not a fan of changes, huh?”
His last sentence is spoken softly. Satoru all but throws himself on top of Suguru- though, careful not to hurt him on the landing. He groans. Suguru brings a hand on his back. Then, he lets it all out. Groaning again while laying his cheek on the other’s chest.
“Urgh. Yes. Everything is pissing me off: the higher-ups, having to move out of the dorms, having to change schools, pretending to be normies? It’s all so annoying! I get why we’re doing it but it's not making me less pissed about everything! Even the stupid uniform sucks! What the fuck is up with that!”
Suguru smiles softly at his rambling, stroking his back softly as he complains. He hums along, his smile growing with amusement.
“I think… that you’re tired and pissed about the changes. You tend to get ticked off by everything when you’re tired. But I’ll give you that the uniform is far from comfortable.” He pauses before giving him a nudge. “When’s the last time you slept a full night?”
Satoru remains quiet for a few instants, scouring his brain for the answer, and that gives away more than he intends to. He tries to reassure Suguru.
“I don’t know, but hey, I’m okay. It’s not that bad, I promise. And- I swear that if it gets too bad, I’ll let you know.”
Suguru makes a noise of discontentment. His hand pauses on his back for an instant before it starts again. Satoru knows that the younger is not convinced, but he doesn’t push anymore, sighing lightly before warning him.
“You’re going to get a migraine if you keep this up.”
Satoru doesn’t respond. He knows that Suguru is right- he knows that; it’s just- complicated. It’s hard to sleep when his brain keeps overthinking- when all it does is remind him of his mistakes, of what terrible things could’ve happened. When his eyes keep track of every little movement of cursed energy and his mind keeps track of it all. When sometimes the distance between atoms feels too big- how do you explain that to someone who can’t see it? Feel it? It’s complicated.
They remain like that for a few minutes before Suguru pats his back, stating that they need to leave. They have to meet with the school principal before they can get started. Satoru grumbles before rolling off him so he can stand. Suguru then helps him up as well and they join Shoko right as she’s about to leave without them.