The Morning After**
The sun rose reluctantly, casting molten gold through the half-drawn curtains, spilling over the wooden floors of Jujutsu High like a warm sigh. A hush had settled over the campus—the kind of silence that only follows a night filled with laughter too loud, glances too long, and just enough alcohol to soften the boundaries between friendship and something more.
Sana stirred slowly beneath the covers, blinking into the sunlight that filtered across her bed. Her head throbbed—a dull, persistent reminder of the previous night. She groaned, sitting up too fast and instantly regretting it.
On the bedside table, a neon-pink sticky note fluttered under the weight of a water bottle. Shoko's loopy handwriting read:
**"Water. Two aspirin. You're welcome. —S."**
Sana reached for the pills with a wry smile. Her heart softened. The night came back to her in blurred snapshots—Shoko's cackling laughter, Satoru's impossibly bright smile, the warm glint of candlelight against wine glasses, and that moment... when he had leaned in close and whispered, "You looked really nice tonight."
Her hand drifted to her cheek, which still felt warm at the memory.
In the room across the hall, Satoru groaned dramatically into his pillow.
"Why is my tongue dry? Why are my bones dry?" he whined.
"Because you tried to fly," came Suguru's calm voice. He was already dressed, sipping tea from a ceramic cup while seated on the edge of Satoru's desk. "You said 'I am the Cloud Prince."
Satoru blinked, then squinted. "Did I… at least look cool?"
Suguru raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't call that 'cool.'"
There was a beat of silence. Then Satoru flopped back onto the bed, one arm thrown over his face. "She said I looked nice," he murmured.
Suguru didn't ask who. He didn't need to. Instead, he gave Satoru a knowing side glance and said, "You know better than anyone it can't be possible."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Suguru set his cup down. "Nothing. Drink your tea before you dehydrate into a fossil," he said, already heading toward the door.
In the common kitchen, Shoko was humming as she flipped pancakes, oversized sweatshirt slipping off one shoulder. The scent of butter and coffee filled the air.
Utahime walked in and froze. "You're cooking? Are you alright?"
"I'm healing," Shoko replied without missing a beat. "And someone had to keep you lightweights from dying."
Utahime smirked. "Didn't know you were the nurturing type."
"Huh?" Shoko gave her a sidelong look, spatula mid-air.
"I mean... you don't exactly 'say' you care."
Shoko shrugged, smile curling at the corners. "Actions speak louder, don't they?"
And when Suguru walked in a moment later, she didn't turn—but the smirk on her face softened into something quieter, gentler.
By late morning, the entire group had assembled in the common room. Some had wet hair from rushed showers, others clutched steaming mugs like sacred relics.
"Let's never do that again," Sana mumbled from under a thick blanket.
"Let's absolutely do that again," Shoko said, holding a mug labeled 'World's Okayest Doctor'.
"You're all weak," Satoru declared from where he lay dramatically on the carpet. "I, on the other hand, have transcended hangovers. I've evolved."
"You've transcended brain cells," Utahime retorted.
A wave of laughter rippled through the room. Sana chuckled softly, stealing a glance at Satoru. He was grinning up at the ceiling, arms folded behind his head. Peaceful. Unfiltered. Real.
"Oh, is that so, Utahime?" Satoru teased, turning his head toward her. "You sound like someone who needs a 'special grade' mission. I've got a few lying around."
"Shut up, Gojo," she shot back.
The rest of the day passed lazily. Shoko headed to the hospital to treat injured sorcerers. Satoru and Suguru left for their missions. And Sana made her way to the training grounds.
Her selection trials were in a week.
She was training for the 'Fastest High School Student'—a title she intended to win.
A Few Days Later
Everyone was off on assignments, and like most days, Sana was paired with Mei-san. Satoru had insisted that missions would help her become more familiar with cursed energy—and maybe even help lift her own curse.
Tomorrow was the big race.
That night, after everything was said and done, Sana lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. A strange mix of nervousness and excitement buzzed through her limbs. She wasn't afraid. Just… waiting.
*Knock knock.*
She sat up.
When she opened the door, Shoko, Suguru, and Satoru stood on the other side, all wearing soft smiles.
"We got permission to come with you tomorrow," Shoko said casually, holding up a small bag.
"Yaga-sensei thought it was good for us to support each other," Suguru added.
Sana blinked, her heart swelling. "You guys…"
"You didn't think we'd let you face that alone, did you?" Satoru grinned.
The Morning of the Race
Sana was up before dawn, running her usual laps, breathing in the crisp morning air. The sky was still pale blue, the sun shy behind the clouds.
Back at the dorm, Suguru was in the kitchen, calmly preparing energy drinks and light snacks. Shoko ran down a checklist with military precision. "Water bottles. Towels. Emergency curse talismans just in case."
Utahime groaned. "We're not exorcising anyone today, Shoko."
"You never know," she shrugged.
In her room, Sana sat alone, tying her shoelaces slowly. She wasn't nervous. She was just… grateful. Grateful for them.
Then came a soft knock.
She opened the door to find Satoru standing there—without his glasses. His eyes, striking and honest, held something different that morning. Something tender.
"Satoru?"
He didn't answer at first. Just gently placed something in her hand.
A small, woven 'omamori charm'.
"For luck," he said quietly.
Sana blinked, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Thank you. I'll keep it with me. But I'm already lucky. Because you're all here."
Satoru's gaze faltered, just slightly.
"Sana… I wanted to be there. Really. But there's an urgent special grade mission. I leave in ten minutes."
Sana's breath hitched. "Oh…"
"But," he added quickly, "I made sure Suguru's with you. And I'll be cheering for you. Even if it's from the other side of the country."
A pause.
"I know how much this means to you. And I want you to win. I believe in you."
Sana looked at him, overwhelmed by emotions she couldn't name. "I… It would've meant a lot if you were there. But I get it. You're always looking out for everyone. Even me. Even when I don't realize it."
She closed her fingers around the charm.
"You're the kindest person I know, Satoru. But… don't forget your own heart. It's okay to be selfish sometimes."
His expression shifted, surprised—and maybe, a little moved.
"Win this for me, Sana-san," he said softly.
She smiled—a radiant, teary smile—and nodded.
As he turned to go, she whispered, "Be safe."
He didn't look back. But he lifted one hand in a quiet wave.
And just like that, they went their separate ways.