• paper cuts

The next day, Suguru finds Gojo nursing a bandaid on the bridge of his nose. He can’t help the thrill of glee that runs up his spine when the other begrudgingly moves his feet off of the desk when Suguru approaches.

Suck it, he wants to say when he sees the scowl on Gojo’s face. Instead, Suguru smiles.

“Hey,” he starts. “I think we got off on the wrong foot.” Understatement of the century. “My name’s Suguru Geto, what’s yours?” It’s a question asked purely for formalities, and he’s sure Gojo knows that, but he’s still unprepared for the other’s answer.

“Your mom,” Gojo drawls out, and Suguru realizes he’s starting to see why people want this kid dead.

• it's not time to stop

Contrary to popular belief, Maki has always been the one chasing after Mai.

• you love me wrong

But he was seventeen now. He was not young anymore, and he’d washed the blood off on his own. She could only trace her fingers across his face in the aftermath and whisper, “You don’t have to be okay without your mother.”

Suguru, for one inane moment, wanted to cry.