Chapter Text
Utahime had never complained about her life. She was always grateful for everything she had been given. A harmonious family, financial security, an education at a prestigious school. Her life was neatly arranged, guided by clear goals and carefully planned steps. She always set targets and prepared backup plans in case something unexpected happened. Not once had her life ever strayed from the path she had chosen.
But for the first time in her seventeen years of living, something slipped completely out of her control. Worse, she had no backup plan for it. A streak of bad luck that stained her otherwise perfect record.
And it all started with a love letter.
A love letter she had written for the boy she liked, Geto Suguru.
She refused to become a coward who lived with regret for never confessing her feelings. With only a year left of high school, she had finally decided to be brave. Too shy to say it out loud, she chose to write a letter instead. Old-fashioned, maybe, but she knew she would never survive a face-to-face confession. Quietly, after lying to her teacher about going to the restroom, she slipped into Geto’s classroom and placed the letter inside his desk drawer. Wednesday, during PE class, was the perfect time. She knew his schedule inside out. Not because she stalked him, but because they often worked together in student council activities.
She knew it was a gamble. There were only two possible outcomes, acceptance or rejection. If he accepted her feelings, she would fulfill every item on the wishlist she had secretly written for the boy who would become her boyfriend. She could already imagine the memories they would create together. She was certain she would never make him regret it and would become the best girlfriend he could ever have. But if she was rejected, she had another wishlist prepared, a list of things she would do to move on and forget her feelings for him. It might not be easy, but she believed she could survive heartbreak. Everything had been carefully thought through.
But there are days when bad luck chooses someone at random. And Utahime believed that today was her unlucky day.
Her first bad luck came when she saw her crush kissing another girl.
Geto Suguru was kissing Ieiri Shoko.
She could almost hear something crack inside her chest.
Without wasting a second, she turned around and ran the moment she accidentally caught them near the sports equipment room. Baseballs were scattered across the floor around their feet. Their teacher and classmates were probably waiting on the field, unaware of what was happening behind the building.
She finally stopped in the hallway after running without direction. She had to return to class immediately. Her teacher would surely wonder why she had been gone for so long. She had already lied once, and now this was the result. Her heart felt shattered, tears blurring her vision. She had never imagined it would hurt this much.
Ieiri Shoko was one of Geto’s closest friends. They were often seen hanging out together, spending time side by side. A beautiful girl with a laid-back, effortless charm that was rare. Even Utahime admired her. It was Geto who had introduced them. Her first impression of Shoko was that she was undeniably cool. Utahime had liked her instantly and wanted to become close friends. She was sure they would get along well. But because they were in different grades and involved in different activities, they rarely met and only exchanged greetings when they happened to cross paths.
If Geto liked Shoko, that was only natural. Who wouldn’t fall in love being close to a girl as captivating as her? Geto had good taste. Utahime was genuinely happy and grateful that the girl by his side was Shoko. Truly, she was happy for them.
Still, it hurt.
Her feelings were crushed before she even had the chance to confess. The letter no longer mattered, so Utahime returned to Geto’s classroom to retrieve it before PE class ended.
That was when her second bad luck struck.
The letter was gone.
There was no way she could mistake Geto’s seat. Second seat from the back, by the window. His black shoulder bag was exactly where it should be. The letter couldn’t have flown away; all the windows were tightly shut. The only possibility was that someone had found it. But who? Had Geto returned to the classroom after what she saw earlier? Or had someone else discovered it? Who would dare rummage through Geto’s desk? Shoko? Or perhaps… his other close friend?
No. Utahime refused to think about that last possibility. One heartbreak was more than enough. She didn’t need worst-case scenarios piling onto her misery.
Great. In just twenty-eight minutes after placing the letter, two disasters had already struck.
The bell rang for the next class. Noise echoed from the distance. PE class must have ended. She hurried back to her own classroom before anyone noticed she had snuck into a junior’s class. When she returned, the English teacher was already gone, and Mei-Mei was staring at her suspiciously.
“Looks like you have a serious digestive problem,” Mei-Mei remarked dryly.
Utahime walked past her and dropped into the seat beside her, exhaustion weighing down her movements. “Everything’s a mess,” she muttered, covering her face in frustration.
Mei-Mei raised an eyebrow and rested her chin on her right hand, clearly ready for gossip. “Your digestion?”
“No!” she snapped.
Mei-Mei chuckled. “What kind of mess makes the school’s student council president skip class?”
“I didn’t skip! I just… had some urgent business.”
“Hm…urgent business,” Mei-Mei narrowed her eyes, sensing the lie.
“Please don’t ask right now.” Utahime’s voice trembled. The tears pooling in her eyes made Mei-Mei back off.
“Fine. You owe me the full story later.”
The rest of the day passed in a haze of heartache and restlessness. Her motivation and spirit had completely drifted away. She planned to go home early, lock herself in her room, and let all her heartbreak spill out. She wanted to cry alone, without restraint, to commemorate her first heartbreak.
Geto was a kind boy who had effortlessly captured her heart. She loved his gentle voice and his charming smile. At first, they were nothing more than senpai and kouhai in the student council. It hadn’t taken long for her to fall for him. Of course, he was popular among girls. He treated everyone kindly and was friendly to all. As the dependable vice president of the student council, his intelligence, attentiveness, and kindness only made her like him more.
It had taken her weeks to decide to confess. She had lost count of how many drafts she had thrown away, struggling to put her feelings into words. She tried writing something long, then something unbearably cringey. None of it felt right. In the end, the letter she wrote was painfully short and completely lacking in flair.
I like you.
Iori Utahime
P.S. Meet me behind the laboratory after school.
The postscript was longer than the letter itself. Still, she knew Geto well enough to believe he would understand that she was serious. While writing it, she had allowed herself to hope that maybe he felt the same way. But deep down, she knew that wasn’t true. Her feelings were destined to be one-sided.
It was fine. She didn’t regret it. Seeing him happy with a girl as amazing as Shoko was enough. For now, she would lock her feelings away in the deepest part of her heart, where no one could see them. When the time came, she would move on and turn him into nothing more than a beautiful memory from her school days.
But before that, she had to find her missing love letter.
⸺
And so, here she was. Hiding behind a wall, peeking toward the back of the laboratory building. It was the perfect place for secret conversations. Quiet and far from the crowds. No one used the lab after school today. She waited for whoever had taken her letter. She would step out once they appeared. But after an hour of waiting, no one came.
That only made her rethink everything. The letter definitely wasn’t in Geto’s hands. If it were, he would have come to reject her in person. Another possibility was that someone who liked Geto had found the letter and deliberately sabotaged it. If that was the case, she would actually feel relieved. Still, the situation was strange.
Eventually, she stepped out from behind the wall and slowly approached the window, only to find the laboratory empty. She turned away and examined the plants growing around the area one by one. A gentle breeze passed by, birds chirping softly in the air. The atmosphere was peaceful, yet she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling crawling beneath her skin.
Just as she was about to leave, something suddenly fell from the tree above with a loud thud. She screamed and froze when she saw a figure with white hair lying right in front of her.
That “something” was Gojo Satoru.
“Gojo?!” she shouted, clutching her bag tightly. He laughed, clearly satisfied at having startled her.
“What are you doing here?!” she demanded, panic creeping into her voice.
“Kaichou, your face looks ridiculously funny,” he said, still trying to suppress his laughter. His white hair was a mess, a few leaves clinging to it. His mouth hung open without shame, his voice loud and sharp enough to cut through the peaceful air.
Utahime clicked her tongue in irritation. Of all the people she could have met here, it had to be him. Geto’s other close friend, and without question, the most annoying student she had ever encountered. If Geto was calm and kind, then Gojo was loud, arrogant, and utterly unbearable. He always managed to provoke her, anytime, anywhere.
“Are you that bored that you’d sit on top of a tree?!” she snapped. “Stop acting like a child!”
Her frown deepened as she watched him casually fix his messy white hair, striking a pose as if he were some kind of model. The tall menace felt like a thorn in her side. Gojo Satoru, the student whose constant pranks forced her to step in more times than she cared to remember. Chronic tardiness. Scaring new students last semester. None of it should have been her responsibility. But the student council’s discipline committee never did its job properly, too easily swayed by his silver tongue. Even the teachers rarely reprimanded him, thanks to his old-money family background. Money really was terrifying.
Still, rules were rules. And Utahime refused to let them be ignored. That was why she always confronted him whenever he crossed the line. If she counted every violation he’d committed, it would probably fill an entire textbook. So it wasn’t surprising that he had somehow ended up bothering her here, too.
Wait.
But why was he here?
Of all places, why here?
No… that couldn’t be it.
She shook her head quickly. Her mind presented the obvious answer, but her heart refused to accept it. Rather than overthinking and giving herself another headache, she decided to leave.
“Whatever. I’m going home.”
She had barely taken a step when Gojo shifted to block her path. He stood right in front of her, deliberately preventing her from passing. She had no choice but to look at his infuriating face again. His blue eyes were magnetic, almost forcing her gaze to linger. He tilted his head and smiled crookedly.
“How strange,” he said casually. Then he pulled a very familiar piece of paper from his pocket. “Weren’t you the one who asked me to come here?” he added, grinning as he waved the love letter in the air.
That was it.
Her third bad luck of the day.
Of all the possibilities, the worst one had come true. The letter had ended up in Gojo’s hands. Utahime found herself completely speechless at the absurd chain of events. Her face heated up instantly, and without thinking, she lunged forward with all her strength.
“Give it back!”
Gojo was faster. He lifted the letter higher, completely out of her reach. She kept jumping anyway, even though she knew it was hopeless. Stealing it back from someone as absurdly tall as him was impossible.
“Huh? But this letter is for me, right?”
“No! It’s not for you!” she protested, jumping again.
He tilted his head. “Oh? So this is a confession of love for me?”
“No! Idiot!”
“Don’t be shy, Kaichou,” he shot back, unfazed.
There was no point continuing like this. Utahime stopped jumping. She stopped retreating. But Gojo, just as quickly, slipped the letter back into his pocket. She took a deep breath, then looked straight up at him.
“Listen,” she began, her voice calm, the same tone she used during new student orientations. “There’s a misunderstanding he—”
“Alright then. Let’s date.”
“Excuse me?” She blinked.
“I accept your feelings. So, we’re officially a couple now,” he declared confidently, a satisfied smile on his face.
Utahime blinked twice, unsure whether her ears had malfunctioned or if he had completely lost his mind. Their conversation clearly hadn’t been aligned from the start. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest.
“Can you stop talking for one second and listen to me properly?” she ordered.
Gone was the teasing smile. Gone was the playful tone. Anyone could tell she was barely holding herself back from punching him.
“I’m always listening, Kaichou.”
She held out her hand. “Then give the letter back.”
“No,” he replied instantly, slipping his left hand deeper into his pocket, gripping the paper like he was afraid she’d steal it.
“I don’t have time for your nonsense, Gojo!” her voice rose again.
Her breathing grew uneven, her shoulders rising and falling. She hadn’t even had time to properly grieve her failed confession, and now she was stuck dealing with this abnormal human being. She lifted her chin in defiance, even though she knew it was useless.
Then she froze.
Gojo wasn’t smiling anymore.
His face was unreadable. Calm. And for a split second, she caught something sharp flicker in his blue eyes.
“But I do,” he said firmly. “I have time to wait for you.”
For a brief moment, Utahime’s heart skipped.
“I waited for you,” he continued, “watching you hide like a thief for an entire hour while sitting up in that tree.” His voice was steady, almost serious. “At first, I thought this was just a prank using the student council president’s name. That’s why I hid up there. I wanted to see the truth.”
She listened, reluctantly giving him space to explain.
“I didn’t expect the real student council president to show up,” he said. “So tell me, why would the student council president hide when she’s the one who gave me this letter?”
“You already know it’s not for you. Stop pretending to be stupid,” she snapped. “And I know that letter was in Geto’s desk. You’re the one who took something that didn’t belong to you.”
He shrugged. “I found it first. That makes it mine.” Then, shamelessly, “Besides, you didn’t write who it was for.”
She stepped closer. Her pride was already in pieces. There was no turning back now.
“That letter is for Geto,” she said clearly, sharply, each word deliberate. “Do you understand now?”
He fell silent.
His lips pressed together, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a brief flash of something wounded in his eyes. He looked away, focusing on anything but her face. His expression twisted, something like frustration crossing it. His lips twitched slightly.
He took a breath, exhaled unevenly. “You’re the one who doesn’t understand.”
His voice sounded weaker than before. Almost resigned.
Despite knowing he was the one who had taken the letter, Utahime tried to understand his actions. Maybe, knowing that Geto and Shoko were together, he was trying to protect their relationship. Even without his interference, she would have backed away on her own.
“It’s fine,” she said quietly. “I’ve already given up.” Then, softer, “I know about Geto and Shoko.”
He turned sharply, eyes wide. “How did you—?”
Utahime gave a faint smile, unable to hide the ache in her expression. She looked up at the sky, willing her tears not to fall. “I just know. You don’t need to worry. I won’t ruin their relationship.”
She had momentarily pushed the image away, but it came rushing back. The sight of them kissing. The pain returned, sharp and overwhelming. She was sad. Truly sad. No matter how much she tried to stay strong, it still hurt unbearably.
This wasn’t Geto’s fault. It wasn’t Shoko’s. It wasn’t even Gojo’s.
It was hers.
She was the one who foolishly blushed at Geto’s kindness. She liked it when he told her the red ribbon suited her. She liked it when he draped his jacket over her shoulders when she accidentally fell asleep in the student council room. She liked it when their fingers brushed during discussions. She liked it when he walked her home after her bike broke.
She liked every moment she spent with him. And her heart, without permission, had stored all of it away. Kindness that he would show to anyone.
She was the only one who hoped. The only one who dreamed. The only one whose heart raced.
And he never did.
She knew she had to let go. It was the right thing to do.
But was it really so wrong to ask for just a little more time? Just a moment longer to keep these feelings, before they slipped through her fingers for good?
Then a large hand gently rested on her head.
Annoying as he was, his hand was warm. Warm in a way she hadn’t realized she needed. That soft, careful touch felt like permission, like an answer to the silent question in her heart. That she was allowed to hold onto her feelings, even if only for a while.
“Don’t hold it in,” he said softly. “I promise I won’t look.”
That was all it took.
The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. She didn’t care that she was breaking down in front of Gojo. She didn’t care that her walls were crumbling right in front of him. It was enough that he stayed. Enough that he let her cry over a love that had nowhere to go.
⸺
The last spoonful of ramen disappeared into her mouth. The ramen shop near Jujutsu High was crowded tonight. Students from other schools, tired office workers just off their shifts, even a small family sharing a table nearby. The rich aroma of broth mixed with the faint scent of air freshener, wrapping the place in a kind of warmth that promised comfort to anyone who stepped inside.
Crying, it turned out, drained far more energy than she had expected. She couldn’t remember how long she’d cried. Only that at some point, the tears had stopped, and Gojo had brought her here. He said he’d treat her to as much food as she wanted to cheer up her broken heart.
It was strange. Unsettling, even.
For a moment, she thought the sun must have risen in the west. Gojo was being kind, without his usual bragging or noise. But she wasn’t about to complain. The ramen really was good.
Her cheeks still felt itchy. The traces of tears and snot had been wiped away, but the swelling around her eyes and nose betrayed everything. Gojo’s bowl had been empty for a while now. His white cup still held half a serving of tea. Two buttons of his uniform shirt were undone, his dark blue striped tie hanging loose around his neck. His ridiculous sunglasses slid slightly down his nose, making it easy for her to see his blue eyes fixed on her the entire time.
“What?” she asked. She tried to sound sharp, but her voice came out quiet.
“Full already?” he asked casually, the corner of his lips lifting.
Utahime cleared her throat, suddenly awkward. If she thought about it, she’d already embarrassed herself enough in front of him. And now he was even paying for her meal. The fact that it was Gojo of all people made her want to bury herself underground.
“I’ll pay my share,” she said, clinging desperately to her pride.
He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I told you, I’m treating.”
“I insist. I don’t want to owe you anything.” Her fist pressed firmly against the table.
Gojo sighed, clearly realizing just how stubborn she was. “Fine. Then next time, you treat me,” he said flatly. “That’s fair, right?”
She wanted to refuse. Wanted to make sure they wouldn’t cross paths again like this in the future. But that felt ungrateful, so she only nodded weakly.
“…Alright. Just tell me when.”
She picked up his cup and finished the remaining tea. The cold air from the AC brushed against her arms, yet the back of her neck felt strangely warm with unfamiliar tension. Never once had she imagined herself sitting calmly across from Gojo, eating in peace, without shouting or bulging veins. As much as she hated to admit it, being with him like this distracted her, even helped her forget her troubles for a moment.
Utahime intertwined her fingers, fidgeting with her thumbs. She bit her lower lip, then straightened her posture. Swallowing her pride, she declared a temporary ceasefire.
“Gojo,” she began. “Thank you… for everything.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows lifted, a mischievous grin slowly forming. “A rare moment. The student council president thanking me.”
“Please don’t start a fight.”
“I’m just moved,” he laughed softly. “Well… you’re welcome, Kaichou.”
For the first time, she smiled at him genuinely. Softly. And Gojo hoped that smile would never fade.
“Can I ask you something?” he said, his voice lower now.
She nodded. He fell silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully. Whatever he was about to ask felt like it would poke at an old wound.
“…Will you forget him?”
Her body stiffened. He didn’t ask how she found out about Geto and Shoko. He didn’t ask if she was okay. It was as if he already knew there was no chance left for her. His question implied that she should forget him. And forgetting him meant erasing her feelings too.
“Have mercy on me,” she said dryly. “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since my heart broke.”
He looked startled. Guilty. Almost panicked. It was oddly amusing to see him flustered.
“Sorry. That’s not what I meant,” he said quickly, raising his right hand in apology. “I’m not telling you to move on fast or anything. You can keep your feelings for him.”
She couldn’t hide her surprise. Maybe she’d judged him too harshly.
“I mean…” He hesitated, his voice trailing off before he met her gaze again, suddenly resolute. “If it’s hard for you to forget him, I can help.”
“…Huh?”
The air felt thin. The noise of the shop faded into the background. It wasn’t that she didn’t hear him. It was that his words made no sense.
“I can make you forget him,” he said with an unshakable smile. “Until there’s no space left for him in your heart.”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. “Wait. Wait!” She raised her hands. She really needed to prepare herself for any more surprises today. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Make me your boyfriend,” he said smoothly. “Use me however you want.”
Her heart skipped.
Was this some kind of prank? Was there a camera somewhere she couldn’t see? Should she wave and give up already? Why did today keep throwing the unexpected at her without mercy?
“I’m not that desperate!” she shouted, slamming her hand on the table. Nearby customers glanced over. “And stop saying things like that. I won’t use someone else just to save myself.”
“Huh? I don’t mind, though,” he replied, arms crossed, grinning. She could feel her heartbeat quickening.
“Thank you for the offer,” she said firmly, forcing herself to breathe. “But I can heal on my own. I don’t need your help.”
“You sure?” he said, voice calm but pointed. “One wrong step, and you might just sink even deeper.”
She pressed her nails into her palm. “Yes. I’m sure.” Then she leaned back in her chair, narrowing her eyes at him. “Now it’s my turn to ask.”
Gojo traced the rim of his teacup in slow circles, then gave a small nod.
“What are you planning?” she accused. “This is strange. You’re doing too much for me.”
“Ouch. That hurts,” he said dramatically, clutching his chest. “I’m just sincerely helping my heartbroken senpai who got rejected because of my best friend.”
“You’re suspicious.”
“This is called kindness. Am I really that awful in your eyes?” he shot back, his expression flat, unreadable.
She gasped softly, realizing she’d gone too far. “Sorry… I’m just not used to seeing this side of you.”
Gojo rested his chin on his hand, staring at her as if he could peel her apart layer by layer. She knew she’d been harsh, but he never made it easy by constantly acting like a menace.
“Alright. Apology accepted,” he said, easing the tension. “But you’re not entirely wrong.”
She figured as much. “Then why help me? If this is about Geto and Shoko, you don’t need to—”
“No,” he said. “I’m doing this for myself.”
“So…” she asked carefully. “You really want to date me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Gojo suddenly leaned in, so close that she had to pull her head back to keep some distance between them. Her heart slammed wildly against her chest, loud enough that she was sure it echoed in her ears. This was Gojo. And she had just had her heart broken.
And yet, she still couldn’t control it.
“Because of you,” he said softly.
At this distance, she could clearly see his long white eyelashes. Then, a second later, his lips curved into a crooked smile.
“You’re flustered, aren’t you?”
Damn it. He was messing with her again. She shoved his face away on reflex. “Stop joking around!”
He chuckled, rubbing his nose where her hand had pushed him. “I wasn’t finished yet, you know.” But she was already sick of hearing his nonsense.
“It really is because of you,” he continued. “Because you’re the exemplary student council president who’s held the position for two consecutive terms.”
She scoffed at the reason. So that was it. Just because of her title.
“This is exactly the Gojo I know,” she muttered.
She noticed his smile falter ever so slightly before he forced a brighter expression. Somehow, this one felt different. Less genuine.
“Well… dating you would benefit me,” he said casually. “I can add another name to my dating history. It’d look great to brag about having dated the student council president, don’t you think?”
The blunt honesty stung more than she expected. She’d dealt with Gojo’s constant annoyance countless times before, but even so, she already found herself missing the version of him who had been kind to her earlier.
“You really have no shame,” she scoffed.
And yet, she smiled.
Without realizing it, she had completely forgotten about Geto for a brief moment. Maybe this would become her last memory of Gojo, the one where he tried, in his own twisted way, to comfort her.
“As annoying as you are,” she said with a bright smile, “I truly am grateful for today.”
She genuinely appreciated his kindness.
They finally parted with calmer hearts, far lighter than before. Just before they went their separate ways, Gojo suddenly asked something completely random.
“Kaichou, do you prefer movie theaters or amusement parks?”
She found the question strange, but answered anyway. “Amusement parks.”
“Candy apples or cotton candy?”
“I don’t really like sweet things,” she replied after thinking for a moment. “But maybe candy apples.”
“Which would you choose? A handsome but poor boyfriend, or a rich but ugly one?”
His questions only grew stranger by the second.
“Neither,” she replied jokingly. “I want a boyfriend who’s handsome and rich.”
They both laughed.
“Then don’t you think I’d make the perfect boyfriend?” he teased, adjusting his sunglasses. “I’m handsome and rich, you know.”
“This again?” She shook her head. “Go find another girl.”
“Alright then. See you tomorrow, Kaichou,” he said, waving.
She returned the wave one last time. “Yeah. See you, Gojo.”
The day had been long and exhausting. But it was a day she knew she would never forget.
And hopefully, tomorrow would be better.
⸺
The next morning, all eyes were on her. She could hear whispers following her down the hallway. She checked her uniform again. Nothing was wrong. Everything was perfect. And yet, students kept talking behind her back.
She had never caused trouble. She was always a model student. She was confident being looked at, used to standing on stage while hundreds of students watched her. But today, the gazes directed at her felt different. Heavy. Uncomfortable.
Something was definitely wrong.
A hand tapped her shoulder. She turned around and found Shoko looking at her with concern.
“Utahime-senpai, are you okay?”
Facing Shoko felt awkward after what had happened yesterday. Shoko didn’t know anything, so Utahime couldn’t afford to act strangely around her.
“Oh, hey, Shoko. I’m okay,” she replied, hoping her voice didn’t tremble.
Shoko glanced around the hallway, noticing how people were staring at them, then gently pulled Utahime closer to the window. The bright sky outside reminded Utahime of Gojo’s eyes, though she thought his were far more beautiful.
“Senpai, do you know that you’re being talked about all over the school right now?”
Utahime nodded stiffly. “Yeah, I noticed. But I don’t know why,” she said honestly. “Do you know something?”
Shoko let out a heavy sigh. “Did you write a love letter?”
Utahime’s heart dropped straight into her stomach. How could Shoko know about the letter?
And worse, Gojo still had it. Did he do something with it? She didn’t want to imagine him telling everything to Shoko and Geto. She wanted to believe he wasn’t that cruel.
So she only nodded weakly, too afraid to say anything.
From behind her, she heard Mei Mei calling her name. Both girls turned around.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Mei Mei said, her brows slightly furrowed. It was rare to see her lose her composure.
What on earth had happened?
“You’ve stirred up the entire school,” Mei Mei continued, her voice steadier now.
“What’s going on?” Utahime asked, looking between the two of them. “Please explain. I don’t understand anything.”
Shoko and Mei Mei exchanged glances, as if communicating silently. They weren’t close, hardly ever talked. But somehow, they seemed to understand each other perfectly.
“I didn’t want to believe it,” Shoko began quietly, “but you admitted that you wrote a love letter.”
Utahime swallowed.
“To Gojo.”
Her eyes widened. “What?!”
“And Gojo replied to it,” Mei Mei added without giving her time to protest. “Both letters are posted on the school’s bulletin board.”
“…Huh?!”
“The entire student body is talking about you two,” Shoko continued. “As a very controversial new couple.”
“That’s impossible!”
“The student council president and the troublemaker,” Mei Mei added bluntly, throwing gasoline on the fire.
Utahime immediately ran toward the main hall where the school’s bulletin board was located. Students crowded around, buzzing with excitement over the day’s hottest gossip. She pushed through the crowd, ignoring every stare aimed her way.
And there it was.
Her love letter, posted side by side with another one she immediately recognized as Gojo’s.
I like you too. Congratulations! You’ve successfully won the handsome Gojo Satoru as your boyfriend!
Great Gojo Satoru
P.S. Let’s go on a date after school today.
Utahime ripped both letters down, her anger exploding all at once. Her face burned with a mixture of rage and humiliation as the surrounding students burst into teasing cheers.
Congratulations, Kaichou!
You two fight all the time, but you secretly like each other, huh?
So Gojo’s been causing trouble just to get your attention!
Wasn’t Kaichou the one who confessed first?
You’re such a perfect match! A beautiful couple!
Hope you last until marriage!
Who the hell just wished that?! she thought. She was going to shut that person up so they’d stop spouting nonsense. Utahime clenched her fists. She would deal with that later.
Right now, she had only one goal. Finding Gojo Satoru, the source of all her problems.
She regretted ever softening toward him. He truly was a devil hiding behind a beautiful face.
And apparently, her bad luck still wasn’t over.
I’m going to kill you, Gojo Satoru.