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Christmas is a happy and special occasion. Religiously, aesthetically, and personally speaking, Christmas is celebrated around the world.
For a non-Christian Country, Japan surely does love Christmas. It's celebrated with friends and lovers though. And it's that time where business establishments are booked.
Like common employees and workers, for Jujutsu Sorcerers this is one of the busiest seasons for them. In spite of the happy aura that the season emits, the greater the shadows of negative energy that fuels the curses.
Sorcerers of higher grade are usually burdened to put up with these additional works.
Since she's not on a mission, Utahime decided to help in their temple in preparation for the upcoming New Year. She's been staying there for a month and was allowed to take up her studies at the Jujutsu Tech Kyoto while she's there.
Surprisingly, many people are already visiting their shrine even if it's still Christmas so she's been preoccupied for the week that she hasn't contacted any of her schoolmates in Tokyo.
"Utahime-sama, someone was calling for you. " One of the other shrine maids notified her.
"For me?" It was odd to receive a call early in the morning when the sun had just risen.
"Yes, it's from Jujutsu Tech, it seems."
She immediately dropped sewing charms and ran towards their hallway to pick up the phone.
"Hello, this is Utahime speaking. Eh? Sir Masamichi. Is there something I can help you with?" Utahime's eyes widened as she listened to the caller, she immediately pulled her planner out of her drawer and jotted down the details. Something written in the planner caught her eyes.
Later that morning, a white haired lanky boy appeared in front of the shrine while Utahime's sweeping.
"Gojo!?"
"Yo, Utahime!" He cheekily called to her.
Utahime irked at how he refers to her without respect. But she held it in.
"What's the matter? What brings you here?"
"Huh? We have a mission, right?"
"Yes, I'm informed." She was notified through a phone call by their teacher Masamichi this morning. It was a last minute mission assigned to her. Masamichi told her that Gojo originally had to deal with the curse himself but since he had just exorcised a curse hours ago, he might have been exhausted. So he needs support just in case. And she's the only sorcerer that happens to be available near him at the moment.
"You could have just called me. I thought we would be meeting up in the station?"
"I don't have your number. And it's been a month since I even saw you. So I came here especially for you, Hime" He mockingly teased her.
Ah, he's taunting her again. He's just like that with her.
Gojo and Utahime are teamed to exorcise a curse on this day, December 24th. Christmas Day, out of all days.
Truthfully. They don't have the best interaction. They don't even get along well. Not with Gojo always getting on her nerves. At best, they're civil with each other as an upperclasswoman and underclassman. And even that is one sided for her.
In this mission, There'll be no window nor manager with them since Gojo's capable enough to do their tasks. They're also short staffed in the first place so these sort of things usually happen.
Meaning they will only be the two of them together for the day.
Ugh what a horrible Christmas already.
Utahime then realized something.
"Gojo"
"Mmh?"
"Please go ahead. I still have some errands to do beforehand. Just meet up with me at the station on the agreed time "
"Ah okay. Whatever" he agrees while holding his phone on one hand and one hand waving at her. He goes sightseeing in Kyoto for the meantime.
____
Utahime was the first one to arrive in the station. It was good for her. She immediately rented a locker and put a blue paper bag on it. She doesn't want Gojo to see it yet.
Gojo was 20 minutes late in their agreed meeting time. Thank goodness she hasn't bought their tickets.
At the train, Gojo won't stop babbling nonsense that she just ignores most of the time.
"Aren't you elated? The great Gojo Satoru is teaming up with you." Gojo snickered.
Utahime clenched her fist and sighed.
"It's our first time teaming up, so yes I do feel honored." She's not lying. Since this is her first teaming up with Gojo she wants to show him that she's capable as a sorcerer, too. Maybe he will then stop mocking her.
"Hehh. Finally being honest now little shrine maiden. No one can resist me afterall "
Utahime clenches her teeth and just looks the other way and pretends to sleep. This is the downside of being with the strongest sorcerer.
Gojo loves to taunt Utahime. For him, it's just satisfying to see how her goody two shoes act fumble before him. Just how he likes the old traditionalist to go down. She's not oblivious of his hatred to the system and she understands it. But she feels wrong because she feels like he treats her as a representation of the Traditional Jujutsu System.
"What's the details and information about this curse and mission?" Utahime asked him when he finally fed up with babbling nonsense.
"Ah yes yes. Masamichi-sensei just assigned this to you a while ago after I finished my mission. You're just a last minute support by my side. So you're not fully informed." He then proceeds to explain. "The curse is a Special Grade one. We can't exorcise it completely."
"Even by you?"
"Of course I can, but it's not practical. It will just come back stronger than ever. Just a waste of energy to go all out when it would still return anyhow, so we just have to subside during the Christmas season. This curse influences a person's heart and mind. It's not always harmful but when it comes to this kind of season people are overwhelmed with emotion."
"Holiday Blues, but Christmas Blues in this case huh." Utahime contemplated.
"Exactly. The Holiday Blues Curses in Tokyo are much more dangerous for sure but I already deal with that."
Utahime realized that Gojo has been working nonstop for this season. With that knowledge, she didn't regret what she did earlier. He deserves it at least, she thought.
____
There was a slight problem with the mission.
One of Gojo's attacks didn't work. So the Curse went on a rampage. Utahime has to cover for Gojo while he gathers himself to finish the mission.
Because Utahime has to run around to evade the curse attacks, her phone fell down.
When Gojo finally recovered his full ability he knocked down the cursed spirit.
Utahime immediately started her ritual and sang a melody with her cursed energy to lull the cursed spirit to sleep for more months.
As the curtain vanished, both of them collapsed from exhaustion and fell asleep in the middle of the park.
_____
Heavy eyelids slowly open, as Utahime wakes up. She blinks at the starry night before her and the illuminating lights from the trees nearby.
She immediately checked her wristwatch and widened her eyes.
She shakes the sleeping Gojo beside her.
"GOJO! Hurry the last train!!"
Before Gojo can even respond to her she dragged him to run.
---
It was too late. The last train has already left. They have to wait for the first train tomorrow at 5:30am.
"Let's call the Jujutsu Tech for them to pick us here." Gojo suggested. She immediately fished her phone out of her pocket only to realize that it's not there. She vaguely remembered her phone was accidentally destroyed by Gojo while dealing with the curse.
"Your phone, mine's broken"
"Ah. About that.." He told her that his phone ran out of battery. She also remembered him playing Digimon stuff on it earlier. Great.
Payphones are no go since they didn't memorize the phone numbers.
Utahime panicked. It's Christmas Eve and there's no way they could find a place to stay.
Should they get a taxi?
"Gojo, How much do you have on you?"
"Well I have some 30,000 yen cash left on me but I also have a card"
"Good! Good! Let's find an ATM!"
They immediately got turned down by the sign posted on the machine that says : [No Cash in this ATM. Sorry for the inconvenience]
All others are closed too. Utahime cursed herself for forgetting that ATM machines in Japan have operating hours too.
"Nevermind! Taxis are very expensive anyways. It's triple the price we pay for the train. Let's not. We should just wait for the next Train" Just like that, Utahime gave up.
_____
Gojo Slumped on the Park Bench
"I'm exhausted. Can we rest for a bit?" He asked her while tapping the seat beside him.
"Thanks I was also t-"
He then lie flat on the whole bench.
BASTARDDD!!!
He tried to adjust his tall self to fit on the bench, but to no avail.
She wants to scold the prick for hogging the public property but felt bad because he really might be exhausted from the mission. He has been working for the whole season, after all.
She concedes and sighs, "You can rest for a bit. But stay where you are." She then left to go somewhere.
Minutes later, Gojo felt a cold tin touching his forehead and wake up from his short slumber.
"Here, drink it."
She came back with a cold can of orange juice and some food.
She brought okonomiyaki for the two of them.
While they dig in, Utahime worries about their situation. "What are we gonna do? We have to report our mission immediately" she grumbled as she kept on sipping her juice can.
Gojo chomps on his okonomiyaki and chugs on his juice can. "It's successful anyway. We just have some minor inconveniences. And they probably have some nerve celebrating Christmas at this moment while we're risking our lives working out here. They won't mind. " He laughs.
Utahime stops chewing then turns to him. "This is your first year in Jujutsu Tech, right?"
"Yeah,Obviously" He answered nonchalantly.
"So this is your first Christmas as a Jujutsu Student! This won't do." Utahime stand up and gathered her things.
"Once you finish eating that, let's go find some place to eat. You're already feeling well, right?"
"But we've just eaten."
"It's hardly food. And it's Christmas. We have to get something! We're in Kobe, might as well try their beef and sake." Utahime enthusiastically suggested . She went ahead and was jumping around as she led the way.
Gojo stopped at his steps. Slightly surprised at her behavior.
She's not supposed to be like this.
He continued following her anyway.
Almost all of the restaurants they passed by are full and if not, are already closing.
After an hour of strolling, they settled for a traditional food stall. After asking permission if they could bring food from other establishments, Utahime went out to buy rice wine while the food stand vendor cooked their food.
"You don't want to spend money on a taxi but you splurge on alcohol." Gojo stared at the 3 bottles while resting his chin on his palm.
"It's Kobe Rice Wine! It's worth the money and it's not that expensive"
"Aren't you 18? The legal drinking age is 20. And you have the nerve to lecture Shoko about her smoking habits" Gojo retorts while pointing his finger at her.
"This is different. And 18 is usually the legal age around the world." Utahime responded in defense.
"Don't tell me you're going to drink all of that tonight because no way I'll be dealing with a drunk you. I'd leave you in the streets and just tell your parents." Gojo complaints and grimaced at her and the three big bottles of rice wine.
"No, I won't. I'll take the two bottles home with me and they're reserved for future occasions. I'm also sane enough not to let you be around me when I'm drunk." She looks at him sharply as she says the last line.
They dropped their argument as their sobameshi was served. They're still hungry after all.
"If you want seconds, just tell me. I'm your senpai so the tabs are on me!" Utahime told him as she sipped on her Rice wine glass. So he did.
She also offered a glass of wine to Gojo but he rejected it, opting for a juice.
"Had our phones are doing fine we would have been able to go to Jujutsu Tech so it wouldn't be only the two of us celebrating." Utahime whined. She's now on her third glass of beer.
"Are they hosting a Christmas Party in Tokyo Tech? I'm not informed." It was his first time hearing about it so he was a bit surprised. Christmas is supposed to be their busy day.
"No. It's just a party organized by the students and the teachers. It's like a surprise Christmas Party for the First Years. It's a tradition. It was like that with me, too. We had so much fun. I felt sorry that you weren't able to come on yours. So this is the least I could do so your first Christmas in Jujutsu Tech is not wasted on doing missions. We'll probably be doing missions on Christmas eve for the rest of our lives. So it won't hurt for us to have this one." Utahime smiled at him while she calmly explained the whole thing.
Gojo was taken aback but amused with how Utahime acted and spoke just now. They seldom talk to each other. (if they can even consider it as talking when they're just exchanging insults)
He always insulted her because she's from a traditional family, and strictly abiding to the traditional ways, he thought of her as a Traditionalist he wants to crush so he always insults her. He's petty like that.
She also fights back at him, like she has no regard for her low standing in the jujutsu hierarchy.
He can't deny that he enjoys the banter exchange.
"What kind of Christmas Party that doesn't even have a cake?" Gojo whined as he took a bite from his bowl
"Oh yeah You like sweets. You want one? Let's buy one." Utahime easily agreed and even took money out of her wallet. "We can bring cake here, yes?" She asked the vendor and the latter agreed.
"Do you want to buy it yourself? She turned to Gojo but was puzzled because he looked at her oddly.
"What's wrong, Gojo?"
"Are you drunk or are you a Christmas curse personified as Utahime? If I didn't have six eyes I might have believed the latter."
"Why say that?"
"There's no way Utahime is this kind of senpai. Are you doing roleplay with me?"
Her face darkens. "That's it. Buy your own cake." and shut closed her wallet.
"Heh. I'm just surprised that you're so agreeable tonight. I mean, you're always mean." He crossed his arms and looked at Utahime.
"I have always been agreeable. I'm only like that with you so you're the problem."
"Buy the cake, then."
"No. I've changed my mind"
"Okay so Kobe beef, then." Gojo insisted.
"It's expensive. No way."
"But you just told me earlier that we'll eat Kobe beef since we're here anyway." Gojo retorts.
She really was planning to buy one, but realize that it's too expensive for her.
"Okay, I'll buy the cake." Utahime conceded defeat. She handed him the money reluctantly.
"Good Luck finding a bakery that still sells them at 3AM" Utahime mocks him.
15 minutes later.
Gojo came with a white strawberry short cake.
He looked down at Utahime while grinning as he presented the white strawberry shortcake he got for free.
Damn you blessed bastard
"It should not only be Utahime contributing to our small Christmas party. This is my first Christmas in Jujutsu tech afterall."
He smiled at her, although he looks like he's grinning at her like an insult.
____
The stand had to close so they had to walk back to the station.
They sat down on the stairs and Gojo suddenly lay down and made her lap his pillow.
She knows he's pretending to sleep but she lets him. She let it slide since he's tired and all.
They look like pitiful beggars sleeping in front of the station. They've waited like that and they look blissful to the guards there.
They were quiet once they got in the train . They lean on each other. They were both asleep and still exhausted.
That time while they're waiting for the first train was the first long genuine interaction they've ever had with each other.
There's one thought that came to them from that time they spent together:
She's not that bad
He's not that bad
_____
Once they arrived at the station, they were awkward and not talking with each other. How they actually spent the Christmas together felt like a fever dream.
Utahime remembers something.
"Wait for a sec," she told Gojo then hurried to go to the Locker Section of the Terminal.
She ran and handed a blue paper bag over to Gojo
"What's this?" He asked while he examined the bag.
He then opened the paper bag and saw a box of Mochi Delicacy.
"Belated Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas, by the way." Utahime nonchalantly greeted him.
Gojo blinked several times then sheepishly smirked.
"I knew you wouldn't forget about my birthday. I was heartbroken when you didn't even show up at my party, you know." He held the paper bag to his chest while pouting at her. Just look at him lie to her face. He didn't really care about her absence that time. And it will probably be the last time he won't care.
"Just so you know I still pondered whether I'll give you one or none at all since it's 18 days overdue anyway. only have so many underclassmen so giving you a gift is like a must for an upperclassman like me."
"Oohh So responsible senpai. " He munched on the Mochi. "This is not yet expired, is it?"
"I just bought that yesterday and there is another one in the bag, actually"
When Gojo fished out a blindfold from the paper bag, Utahime proceeded to excitedly explain her gift.
"They said it's comforting. I heard your eyes hurt whe-"
Gojo played the blindfold in his fingers.
"How kinky to give me a blindfold when we just have our first date, Utahime-chan"
She threw the locker keys at him (that he easily dodged) and yelled "It's not used for that kind of thing!! It's a cooling eye mask with an Ice pack. It's used for sleeping!"
Gojo laughs while running away, "What do you mean by 'that'? I never really said anything, did I? And 'sleeping'?? Wow, Utahime you never fail to surprise me."
"Don't twist my words!!"
Running after him makes her so exhausted and frustrated.
That 'He's not that bad' that she said? Yeah. She takes it back now.
___
Gojo called someone as soon as his phone was charged at the Iori Shrine
"Masamichi-sensei~ it was unexpected and unpleasant at first but thanks for the gift." He childishly giggles as he twirls the blindfold on his fingers.
The man on the other line already got what Gojo meant.
He knew it was a good decision to send her there. He's glad that Gojo enjoyed the time with her. He also hoped that they'll get along better from now on.
____
Back at the Jujutsu Tech Dorms that afternoon.
"Yo, Satoru!" Geto and Shoko called to him at the same time.
"Yo!" Gojo responded while Shoko snatched his eyeglass from him
"When did you get back? You pull an all-nighter at Kobe. Are you all right?" Geto asked him.
"I just came back a while ago. I just changed my clothes and I will be going for Masamichi-sensei to report on the mission, together with Utahime."
"Utahime-senpai's back here? Anyway, You totally missed out yesterday." She taunts him while wearing his sunglasses.
"The upperclassmen and the teachers arranged a surprise Christmas party. It was fun getting to know the other students outside of curse-related things." Geto explained while smiling.
"They let us drink, smoke, and gamble! We were on a roll. You missed out big time. Sucks to be doing missions even during holidays, no? Must be hard being the strongest. But at least they let Geto off the hook. I wouldn't feel good to be the sole freshman there. " Shoko puts her one arm around Geto's shoulder as she's stepping on a higher ground.
"Well, I'm not missing out if I also had my own fun last night." Gojo smirked and gave knowing looks to his two classmates.
Geto and Shoko looked at each other and stared at Gojo walking away from them. His hands swirling a blindfold.
"I gotta find out myself" Shoko throws Gojo's sunglasses somewhere then runs to find Utahime.
Minutes later Utahime's screams echoed through the campus:
"GOJO!!!!"