Morning comes too quickly. You didn't sleep much. Every time you closed your eyes—
You felt it.
That weight.
That presence.
Now you stand outside.
The air cool.
Quiet.
Too normal for everything that just happened.
Across from you—
Satoru Gojo
Hands in pockets.
Watching you.
Gojo (casual tone, like nothing changed):"Ready?"
You don't answer.
Your arms cross instinctively.
Y/N:"…no."
He pauses.
Not surprised.
Gojo:"Fair."
You frown slightly
Y/N:"Don't just say 'fair' like that—"
A breath—
Y/N:"You drop something like 'you have a sealed thing inside you' and expect me to just… train?"
He tilts his head slightly
Gojo:"I expected you to argue."
That annoys you more
Y/N:"This isn't funny."
His tone shifts—subtly
Less teasing.
More grounded.
Gojo:"I'm not laughing."
Silence.
You look away.
Y/N (lower):"…what if I mess up?"
A pause.
Y/N:"What if that thing takes over again?"
He doesn't answer immediately
And that… scares you more.
Y/N:"…you don't even know, do you?"
His response is honest
Gojo:"No."
That hits
Not comforting.
Not reassuring.
Just real.
You let out a small, frustrated breath
Y/N:"…then why are we doing this?"
He steps a little closer
Not pressuring—
But present.
Gojo:"Because doing nothing is worse."
You look up at him
Gojo:"If you ignore it, it'll grow anyway."
A pause—
Gojo:"And next time, it won't stop where it did yesterday."
Your chest tightens
Because you felt that.
That it could've gone further.
You whisper
Y/N:"…so this is survival."
He nods once
Gojo:"Exactly."
Silence.
You don't feel ready.
You don't feel strong.
But—
You step forward anyway.
That's your answer. He notices
A small shift in his expression.
Gojo (quiet):"Good."
Training Begins
Gojo:"Close your eyes."
You hesitate again.
Y/N:"…I don't like that part."
A faint smirk appears
Gojo:"Yeah, I figured."
But you still do it.
Eyes closing slowly.
Darkness.
Breathing in—
Breathing out—
Then—
It comes back.
That feeling.
Not pain—
Presence.
Your fingers twitch slightly
Y/N (tense):"…it's there…"
He doesn't interrupt
Gojo (low):"Describe it."
You swallow
Y/N:"…heavy…"
A pause—
Y/N:"…like it's sitting inside me… watching…"
Inside
A faint whisper—
Closer now—
"…you're aware…"
Your breath stutters
Y/N:"…it's… talking…"
That changes his focus instantly
Gojo:"What did it say?"
You hesitate
Y/N:"…I don't know… not clearly…"
A breath—
Y/N:"…but it knows I can feel it…"
A pause
Gojo:"Good."
You open your eyes sharply
Y/N:"Stop saying that like it's a good thing!"
He doesn't back down
Gojo:"It is."
You stare at him
Frustrated.
Confused.
Y/N:"How is something inside me watching me a good thing?!"
His answer is steady
Gojo:"Because it means you're still separate from it."
Silence.
That lands.
Slowly.
He continues
Gojo:"If it stops feeling like that—"
A pause—
Gojo:"Then we have a problem."
Your stomach drops
But now—
You understand the goal.
Not control.
Not power.
Distance.
You take a shaky breath
Y/N:"…what do I do now?"
He gestures lightly
Gojo:"Stay with it."
You frown slightly
Y/N:"…that's it?"
A small nod
Gojo:"That's it."
You stand there—
Eyes closed again—
Not confident.
Not fearless.
But trying.
Facing something inside you—
Without running.
And him—
Watching closely—
Not stepping in—
Unless he has to.
Because this time—
You're not being protected from it.
You're being taught—
How to stand in front of it.
The air feels heavier today.
Not physically—
But inside you.
You stand across from Satoru Gojo again.
Breathing steady.
Trying to be.
Gojo (calm):"Same as before. Don't force it."
You nod.
But your fingers tighten slightly.
You close your eyes
And it comes faster this time.
That presence.
Closer.
Aware.
"…again…"
Your breath stutters.
Y/N (low):"…it's stronger…"
Gojo:"I know. Stay with it."
You try.
You really do.
But this time—
It doesn't just sit there.
It moves
A sudden surge—
Sharp.
Violent.
Your eyes snap open
The dark rim forms instantly.
Your body jerks—
Y/N:"Ah—!"
The mark flares
Heat—
Cold—
Pressure—
All at once.
Your legs give out
You drop to your knees.
Your grip tightens on nothing—
Y/N (choking):"I—I'm —"
Your breathing breaks
Another surge—
Stronger.
Your body can't hold it.
Gojo moves instantly
But he doesn't grab you right away.
He watches—
One second.
Two.
Testing.
Then—
Your body starts to collapse.
He catches you.
Gojo (firm):"That's enough."
His hand presses near your neck
Cursed energy flows—
Cool.
Stabilizing.
The surge breaks—
Like a wave hitting a wall.
Your body goes slack
Your head falls against him—
Breathing uneven.
Barely conscious.
Y/N (faint):"…I tried…"
Gojo (quiet):"I know."
Later
Warm light.
Soft noise.
You wake slowly.
Not a room.
A ramen shop.
The smell hits first.
Then the warmth.
Then—
Him.
Sitting across from you like nothing happened.
Gojo (smirking):"Welcome back."
You blink.
Groggy.
Y/N:"…I… fainted… didn't I…"
Gojo chuckles softly.
Gojo:"Like a true beginner."
A pause—
Gojo:"But hey—you held longer this time."
You try to sit up
Big mistake.
Pain hits everywhere.
Sharp.
Heavy.
Y/N (whisper):"…I can't… move…"
He leans forward slightly
Not panicked.
But watching closely.
Gojo:"Yeah. That'll happen."
You squeeze your eyes shut
Y/N:"…it feels like… my whole body…"
Gojo:"…is protesting?"
You nod weakly.
He exhales lightly
Gojo:"You pushed more energy than your body can handle."
A beat—
Gojo:"Good news? You didn't lose control."
You blink slowly
Y/N:"…this… was control…?"
He nods
Gojo:"That's why you're sitting here."
That sinks in.
Slowly.
A small silence
Then—
A quiet sound.
Your stomach.
You freeze
Gojo tilts his head.
Then smirks.
Gojo:"Ah."
Y/N (weak protest):"I-it's not—"
Gojo:"You're starving."
He turns casually
Orders without asking.
A bowl is placed in front of you minutes later.
Steam rising.
Warm.
Comforting.
He slides it closer
Gojo:"Eat."
You hesitate
Too tired to argue.
You try to lift your hand—
It barely moves.
He notices
A small pause—
Then—
He picks up the chopsticks.
Gojo (casual):"Don't make this awkward."
Your cheeks heat slightly
But you don't stop him.
Too exhausted.
He feeds you quietly
No teasing this time.
Just steady.
Normal.
After a few bites—
You whisper
Y/N:"…thank you…"
He shrugs lightly
Gojo:"You used all your energy. This is basic recovery."
But his tone is softer than his words. Final Beat
You sit there—
Exhausted.
Hurting.
But—
Alive.
And somewhere deep inside—
That presence is quiet again.
Watching.
Waiting.