For Tomorrow's Sake | Various!JJK x Reader

20 | at peace

"There's two cursed spirits," Satoru says, and he pauses for a moment, before turning around. "From what I can tell, at least. They're both in completely opposite directions, though."

"So, we'll just split up," Suguru shrugs.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. We can go in pairs. I'll go with [Name], and-"

"I'll go with [Name], and you can go with Shoko," Suguru promptly interjects.

Needless to say, Satoru is now staring at him in utter bewilderment, but that was easy enough to predict.

"What did you just say?" Satoru gapes.

"I know you're not deaf. You obviously heard me. This is a good exercise, actually. You have obvious attachment issues to [Name]. You cling to her nonstop, like a little baby. Isn't it about time you grew up?"

"I don't have a choice, asshole," Satoru grits out, stepping forward to glare his classmate down. "She's too much of a loose cannon. I never know what she'll do next. I'm the strongest sorcerer here by far. Who else is going to look after her, if not me?"

"I keep telling you that you should just believe in her for a change, but I guess I shouldn't expect a little baby to understand my words," Suguru sighs dramatically.

Satoru narrows his eyes, and you briefly contemplate whether he would actually do anything to hurt Suguru. They're not exactly friends yet. They seem to have more of a rivalry going on. But Satoru's still a good person, even if he tries to act like he's not. If anything, it would probably just end in hair pulling and a slugfest (AKA a reenactment of all his interactions with Naoya).

Shoko crosses her arms and pretends to look offended. "You don't want to go with me that badly, huh? What did I ever do to deserve this treatment?"

"No offense, but I like [Name] way more than you," Satoru simply states.

"Wow. This is blatant favoritism."

"I know. I literally just admitted it was."

"Relax. Do you seriously think I'm not strong enough to take care of whatever cursed spirit there is? You're just insulting me at this point." Suguru flashes Satoru a smug grin, and without wasting a beat, he grabs your hand and starts pulling you away. "We're going now. Try to prove to me that you're not a little baby who doesn't know how to function on their own, alright?"

"I can hold your hand too if you want," Shoko teases, but predictably, Satoru doesn't hold her hand. Instead, he turns away from her with a scowl.

"Let's just hurry up and get this over with," he mutters.

It's a miracle Shoko doesn't burst into laughter right then and there.

While Satoru quietly fumes, dragging his feet along reluctantly, you continue walking hand-in-hand with Suguru. It takes him a while to realize that his hand is still interlocked with yours, and when he finally glances down, his eyes widen slightly before he hurries to pull away.

"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "I was just trying to get on Satoru's nerves. He can be kind of insufferable, so I couldn't help myself."

"You don't have to apologize," you reassure. "You're right that he's a little hard to deal with sometimes. Also... I didn't mind at all. When you held my hand, I mean."

You smile happily, and although Suguru knows he shouldn't read into your words, for a split second, he almost wonders whether you meant something more just then. He wonders if you were secretly hoping he'd keep holding your hand, for much longer.