#montag: thread

[lotus-n-l0ve]

THREADS OF AFFECTION

— Biker!Ryomen Sukuna x Bestfriend!Female Reader

Sometimes, The One You Need Has Always Been There.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

*⁠.⁠✧ SYNOPSIS : After a rough experience with your boyfriend, you turn to your best friend Sukuna. As the night goes on words unravel. The tension between you two grows and everything lay in your hand. But one thing for sure—Sukuna will always be there for you, no matter what.

*⁠.⁠✧ WARNINGS & TAGS : No cheating, bestfriend!sukuna, one sided pining, almost rape, traumatizing elements, vulgar language, confession, 3k words.

*⁠.⁠✧ NOTE FROM LOTUS : O my gosh! I'm so excited. I'm back in my Sukuna brain riot days. He is all I'm thinking about nowadays. Also, always remember that unless it's an explicit "yes", it can't be counted as consent.

*⁠.⁠✧ — NAVIGATION // JUJUTSU KAISEN MASTERLIST

➥ THREADS OF AFFECTION : THE MONTAGE

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE. MINORS DNI, IF YOU DO THEN IT'S YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

Sukuna’s towering body pushed the blondie against the sink, his lips locked with her in a fiery battle, fighting for dominance. Their hands roamed all over each other's body, desperate to get rid of any article of clothing. Even the biggest earthquake or tsunami could not stop him from getting any release tonight. Nothing but the familiar ringtone of piano that he set specifically for you could get in his way.

Sukuna pulled out the phone faster than he could blink, ignoring the whine of the very high and wasted blondie who's name he didn't even bother to remember, Sukuna slid the accept icon across the screen and pressed the cold phone close to his ear.

“Hello?” Sukuna said as he waited for any response but was only met with silence.

“Suku—” Before the blondie could speak, his hand slammed on her palm, forcing her to keep quiet. Her weak punches did little to no damage to Sukuna.

“S-Sukuna…” the trembling voice of yours from the other side of the call threw him over the edge. His eyes darkened and eyebrows frowned, “Where are you?”

After a few seconds of silence you spoke again, “I'm….. I'm outside of Ryle’s house.”

“I'm coming.” Sukuna cut the call and strode out of the party house, ignoring the angry calls, telling him to go back.

The black yzf-r1 cut through the wind. It took Sukuna approximately 10 minutes to get to your location. Even from far away he could see you sitting on the sidelines, knees pulled to your chest, restless sobs eruption from your chest. His bike stopped in front of you. Crouching down in front of you, he cupped your cheeks in his warm hands and raised your head up.

“What happened?” Sukuna asked as he whipped your cheeks only for them to get wet the next second.

“Kuna.” You broke into another feat of breakdown. The words coming out of your mouth sounded like only nonsense.

“Hush, calm down.” He pulled you in his arms. Sturdy fingers running through your hair, providing solace for you, “Follow my breath, come on.”

Your breath aligned with his and finally your speeding heart came to a steady pace. Sukuna broke the hug and whipped your cheeks clean again.

His hold on your face didn't release, “Now tell me what happened?”

You recalled how you ended up here. ‘Little miss virgin’ is what your friends called you. Heck! Even the whole school called you that. It's not like you didn't want to have sex. You just never had the right opportunity for it. Random hook-ups were not your thing. You wanted your first time to be with a special someone.

That's where Ryle came into the picture. He was your seatmate in English class. Because of his continued bad grades Mr. Smith asked you to tutor him in exchange for extra points in the final semester. He was a nice sweet guy who always made you laugh and thus you gave him a chance when he proposed to you.

Well, he was not such a nice guy after all. A month of dating, Ryle was very clear about intimacy. He wanted to have sex with you, he brought up that topic quite often and after a month of thinking you finally prepared yourself to lose your v-card. And that night was tonight.

Ryle was very excited and the big grin on his face on the way to his house made it very clear. You were barely inside the house when his lips attacked yours, catching you off-guard. Your hands, as if instinctively grabbed his shoulders to push him away but his hands on your waist pinned you to the door.

Panic flooded in your heart. Everything felt rushed. You thought you would have enough time to prepare yourself while he took a shower but now you wanted to bolt out of there. Your view hazed and everything became blurry. When you were on the brink of passing out, then did Ryle pull back but dived right down your neck.

“Ryle, stop. Stop it.” Your voice was close to yelling.

Ryle paid no mind to your protest. Placing wet kisses down your neck that felt like a burning rod was touching your skin.

“RYLE, STOP!” You pushed him with all of your strength.

Ryle stumbled back and hit his head on the wall. A painful grunt came out of his mouth as he clutched his head. Guilt filled you in as you quickly rushed to his side.

“Are you okay? I'm so sorr—” tried to grab his hand only for him to jerk your hand away.

“Are you fucking kidding me? What the fuck was that?” Ryle shouted on top of his lungs.

‘I’m s-so sorry…..” your voice trembled.

Ryle took a deep breath, standing up straight, “Okay, it's okay. It's your first time so I understand. Let's continue.”

Ryle grabbed both sides of your face and kissed you again only for you to avoid it and step back.

“Ryle, how about we stop today. I feel a little tired.”

And with each word the smile on his face wavered till it faded into the darkness. You didn't like the look in his eyes, the negative feeling. The Ryle you knew was always so nice to you so his next action came as a heartbreaking shock to you.

His hands gripped your arms with so much strength, his nails dug into your skin, as he shouted at you, “Are you fucking with me right now, Y/N? I didn't put up with you all these days only for you to chicken out and stop me from getting my fun.”

“R-Ryle, you are h-hurting me.” Tears pricked your eyes.

“And you are annoying me. Did you think I ran around you like a dog for nothing huh? Fuck! The least you can do is shut up and take it.”

You didn't like this Ryle. He scared you, suffocated you with fear. His words sent you in a spiral of thoughts. The guy in front of you was nothing but a potential rapist.

In fear, words spouted out of your mouth like a fountain, “Ryle, let me go right now. Otherwise Sukuna will hear about this and you and I both know that you will not like what comes next.”

You looked straight into his eyes, daring him to continue with his absurd act. You could tell, he had more to say but only the name of Sukuna was enough to evoke terror in his heart. No one in their right mind would like to be on his bad side. His personality may have subdued now but his chaotic past personality was well known to everyone. Not to mention his status as the heir of Lumino Corp.

Finally Ryle released you but not without a hurtful shove. He went up the stairs muttering, “Get the fuck out of my house.”

You didn't need to be told twice.

“That damn fucker!” Sukuna jumped up running towards the front door, with the intention of killing, you were sure of.

You hurriedly blocked his way, wrapping your arm around his huge torso, “Wait Sukuna, he is not alone.”

That's when Sukuna heard the indecent noises coming from the house. Sukuna tried to get out of your hold, his jaw locked in a clench, “Even more reasons to end that fucker.”

Your arms only became more firm around him, “No, let's go home. I don't want to be here, I'm not feeling very good.”

Sukuna felt a debate in his heart before he finally took your adequately smaller hand in his and brought you to the parked beast of a bike. Your feelings were way more important than breaking that prick’s nose at the moment. Putting his helmet on you he buckled it tight. His body defending you against the seer hits of wind. Your arms wrapped tightly around his waist and forehead resting on his back as the night played in your head like a movie.

“I didn't put up with you all these days only for you to chicken out and stop me from getting my fun.” was what he said. You wonder if everything was fake. From him being interested in the same subject as you to the same food. All the times he called you late into the night only to hear your voice to getting you coffee every morning. Maybe, everything was fake.Your arms tightened around his waist, the only source of comfort for you, now and forever.

Sukuna’s apartment building, which turned into your hideout over the years, came into sight. Sukuna parked his bike in the underground garage. You didn’t feel like moving but still reluctantly got down from the bike, followed by Sukuna. He led you to the elevator and then to his apartment on the 17th floor.

You found yourself sitting on the gray couch in the living room as Sukuna rummaged through the fridge, “Want something to drink.”

“Anything will do.” You replied as you fidgeted with the blanket on your lap.

Sukuna came back to the living room, placing a can of matcha milk shake as he settled on the couch beside you with a bottle of alcohol in his hand. You picked up the can, taking sips of your drink.

The two of you sat in silence for a long time. Sukuna was bad with words, comforting someone was not his forte but that's what you liked. The comforting silence with him. He let you pick what wanted to do instead of forcing.

It was a quarter till an hour when all your resolve broke and a waterfall of tears ran down your cheeks without break, painful sobbs erupting from your heart. Sukuna silently pulled your head in his chest, his hand running through your head in gentle strokes.

You let all the agony out that you had been holding inside since the moment you went to Ryle’s house. You felt used, as if you are nothing worth other than your body. All the lies of Ryle kept floating in your mind.

“God! I'm so stupid.” You almost whimpered saying those words.

His hand stopped midway in your hair before resuming, “Stop, cry all you want but don't you dare degrade yourself for a lowlife like him.”

“I don't know what to do. Today was supposed to be so special but it turned into a disaster all because I'm such a coward.” Your voice trembled with each word.

“I said stop.” Sukuna held your shoulders and pushed you away from him. You saw an unexplainable fury in his eyes that you knew wasn't directed towards you.

His eyes softened as they stared at your watery ones, “Ai, stop. These things don't happen like that. I know I should be the last one to say this but..”

He cupped your cheeks, bringing your face closer, “Sex is not something to be rushed. If you had gone on with him then I know damn well he would have hurt you. That prick would have made you hate sex or any kind of intimacy.”

You stared into his eyes, heart throbbing because of the intensity in his eyes and the utter sincerity in his voice. It made you want to cry even more because—

“Why couldn't it be you? Gosh! I wish it was you. But it's not possible.” You were about to break into another fit of cry but his next words shocked you to core.

“Do you want me to be? You know……. I'll do anything if you tell me, Ai. Anything.” His thumb on your cheek rubbed back and forth, letting you know he was okay with any decision you make.

You wanted to believe that Sukuna uttered those words as a dear friend of you but the look in his eyes made it so hard to not see the obvious meaning behind his words.

“What?” Your voice barely escaped, a mix of disbelief and vulnerability. You tried to pull away, but Sukuna's hands held you firmly in place, his eyes unwavering.

“We can take things slow. Or you can take the lead. Do whatever you want, I won't say a word.” Words sprouted out of his mouth like an indomitable waterfall and it made him want to slam his head on the wall and black out if he could just stop his damn mouth.

Maybe it was the desperation that was increasing day by day, when he knew he would give you the world if you asked but it's not him that you chose. It was that lowlife jerk who only ever thought with his dick. Sukuna resented those days when you used to talk about him with stars in your eyes, completely oblivious to the turmoil in his heart. His heart ached like hell.

The words hung in the air, the tension between the two of you shifting. The world outside his apartment seemed to stop as you processed what he had just said. Your heart hammered in your chest, every inch of your body aware of how close you were to crossing a line that you had never considered before.

You swallowed hard, feeling the warmth of his body close to yours, the weight of his presence making you feel more vulnerable than you ever had before. The reality of what he was suggesting didn’t quite settle in yet. Was he serious? Was he offering something you couldn’t even allow yourself to imagine?

“I’m not saying this to confuse you,” he continued, his voice low and steady. “But I don’t want you to think you’re alone in this. Not when I’m here, not when I can help you.”

The softness of his words mixed with the roughness of his usual demeanor was enough to make you pause. You had always known Sukuna as someone who didn’t easily show affection or care. But in this moment, as he wiped the last of your tears away, his face softened in a way you had never seen before.

Your heart fluttered, an unexplainable feeling swarming your chest. You didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to process the fact that the person who had always been there for you, who you trusted above all others, was now offering you something you couldn’t have imagined in your wildest dreams.

But then, the fear and uncertainty crept in again. You thought of Ryle, his words, his actions. You thought about the vulnerability you had felt tonight, how everything had gone wrong, and the weight of what had just happened still clung to you like a heavy burden. Could you trust anyone again? Could you trust Sukuna with something as important as this?

“I… I don’t know,” you whispered, your voice trembling once more. “This is all so much. I don’t even know what to think right now.”

Sukuna's face softened even more, and for a moment, he just held you in his arms, letting you feel the comfort of his presence. He didn’t push you. He didn’t rush you. He simply allowed you the space to breathe, to feel, to make the decision for yourself, without any pressure.

“You don’t have to decide anything right now,” Sukuna said, his voice tender. “Take your time. Just know that I’m here for you, no matter what. You don’t owe anyone anything—least of all a bastard like Ryle. Not after what he did. It's only you who matters. Not Ryle. Not me. No-one else.”

His words hit you like a wave, washing over you with a strange sense of relief. It felt like you could finally breathe again. No longer trapped by someone else’s expectations, no longer bound by the need to please or perform for someone else’s desires.

“You’re safe here,” Sukuna added quietly. “Always.”

And like all the times, you believed him. The weight of the night and everything that had happened finally caught up with you. In Sukuna's arms, surrounded by the warmth of his presence, you felt a strange sense of peace that you hadn’t experienced in hours, maybe even longer. His heartbeat was steady against your ear, the rhythm soothing you like a lullaby. Your breathing slowed, and your body relaxed in a way that felt almost foreign, as if you hadn’t allowed yourself to truly rest for so long.

Sukuna didn’t move, didn’t try to disturb you. He simply held you, his strong arms wrapped around you protectively, grounding you in the moment. There were no expectations, no words needed. It was just the two of you, sharing the silence, the comfort of each other’s presence.

And then, without even realizing it, you drifted into sleep.

In his embrace, you felt safe. Safe from the world, safe from the turmoil and confusion that had plagued your mind. You felt as though, for once, the world had stopped spinning, and you could finally breathe without the weight of everything pressing down on you.

Sukuna’s gaze softened as he looked down at you, seeing the vulnerability and exhaustion in your face as you slept. He gently adjusted you in his arms, careful not to disturb you, making sure you were as comfortable as possible. The faintest trace of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, though it was a rare and almost imperceptible expression. He didn’t need to say anything. He knew you needed this—peace, quiet, and the reassurance that, for now, you didn’t have to face everything on your own.

As the night wore on, Sukuna stayed by your side, watching over you. The world outside seemed distant, like it no longer mattered in the face of what was unfolding between the two of you. The only thing that mattered, in that moment, was that you were safe, that you were in his arms, and that he would protect you from whatever came next.

The events of the night could wait. Right now, it was just you and him, and for once, that was enough.

LIKED IT? THEN PLEASE LEAVE A LIKE, REBLOG & COMMENT. IT WOULD MEAN A LOT AND FOLLOW ME FOR MORE LIKE THESE. THANK YOU ♡

© 𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐔𝐒-𝐍-𝐋𝟎𝐕𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 — all content rights belongs to LOTUS-N-L0VE. do not plagiarise any works and do not repost or translate onto any other sites.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

[aidenwaites]

You know I wouldve watched a whole series just about Ekko

[francaoliveira]

🦜ꜰʀᴀɴᴄᴀ ᴏʟɪᴠᴇɪʀᴀ & ᴀʟᴇᴄ ꜰʟʏɴɴ

Franca, admittedly, wasn't much of a drinker. But, after getting into it with Beatriz earlier at the sanctuary in front of the employees and volunteers (and even a few guests), she needed to get away. Texting Phoebe to see if she could meet up with her, she tried to figure out which bar could be the best option. Aurora's was great, but more for when she's in a better mood; The Labyrinth was too flashy and she didn't understand the references too much, nor was she really into fantasy and mythology; Mic Drop!, well, she hates her singing voice (despite being told that it was good), so that's not an option; She will keep avoiding O'Shea's, the place of an awkward blind date that ended horribly a year ago, like the plague; Static was loud, very loud; The Vault wasn't too bad, but she didn't feel like dancing; and then... The Pour House. Fuck, that place kind of scared her, always has. She's rarely, if at all, has come here. But... If she keeps her head down and has a few drinks, maybe she won't be bothered. Fortunately, it didn't seem too busy (or scary) tonight. Sitting at the bar, she'd been about to order a drink when she saw the bartender. "H-Hey," she breathed out. Recognizing her old classmate. "I... didn't know that you work here."

🦥ᴡʜᴏ: @alecflynn

🦥ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴜʀ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ; ᴡᴇᴀᴠᴇʀ ʀɪᴅɢᴇ

🦥ᴡʜᴇɴ: ᴏᴄᴛᴏʙᴇʀ 16ᴛʜ, 2024

[rawliverandgoronspice]

ohhh I managed to convince my potato laptop that it was indeed capable of running clip studio paint let's fucking goooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[psqqa]

truly ted lasso gave us the best gift a show could ever give a fandom: complete lack of confirmation or denial either way

[ilbound]

♡’d for a starter ( ft. mari + spyro ) . // @rathalascendant

Perched on one of the many pedestals in the Elders’ library-chamber , Spyro sits in MEDITATIVE REPOSE .  Though this really isn’t his style ; no , not at all !  His tail twitches frustratedly , his maw pulling into a f r o w n .  The greater dragons had told him , earlier in the day , that the secrets to unlocking his other elemental capabilities ‘ lie within ’ , so to find his answers he must ‘ look inward ’ .

Inevitably , the young dragon slumps forward , deflating against the chilly marble , smoke twisting irritably out of his snout as he grumbles , ❝ Ughhh , it’s no USE !  I just can’t seem to find anything that’ll give me what I need ! ❞  Perhaps he is not looking in r i g h t places ?  Is it not courage ?  Is it not his heart he needs be consulting on the matter ?  He presses his paws over his eyes and GROANS DRAMATICALLY , ❝ I don’t know why they’ve gotta’ be so cryptic about it , anyways.  I’ve been meditating for h o u r s and I still don’t know how to channel anything other than my fire ! ❞  He peeks through his claws , glancing over at Mari nearby , sorting through various tomes.  A small , cheeky smile comes onto his face , ❝ I don’t suppose there’d be a book over there about how I can learn new breath techniques , huh ? ❞

[heswrongshesright]

The End of TikTok - HWSR Ep 124

In this episode of the He's Wrong She's Right Podcast, ‘The End of TikTok’, Andrew Lemacks and Nona Phelps cover a lot of ground! From managing the chaos of youth basketball coaching to the anticipated ban of TikTok and its broader societal implications, they delve into various trending topics. The duo also humorously debates the concept of 'his and her bedrooms,' the awkwardness of Jimmy Carter's funeral prayer comparison to 'Meet the Parents,' and the controversial backlash against Carrie Underwood. The episode takes a more solemn turn as they dedicate a heartfelt tribute to their friend, D.J. ‘Flash’ Davies. Packed with puns and personal anecdotes, it's a comedic yet touching episode not to be missed.

Watch our latest episode here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL143tthLyKksSpobT1DBRCuM83GB-JkEx 

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00:00 Podcast Introduction and DJ ‘Flash’ Davies Tribute

02:59 Andrew's New Role as Basketball Coach

07:38 Carrie Underwood's Controversial Inauguration Performance

13:27 TikTok Ban Speculations and Corporate America

17:05 Jimmy Carter's Funeral and Awkward Sermon

21:48 Debate Over Recognizing an influencer

23:30 His and Her Bedrooms: A Trend?

24:35 Separate Living Situations

28:38 Threads vs. X: Social Media Obsession

29:34 SEO and TikTok Name Confusion

34:21 California Fires and Social Media Reactions

34:42 Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag's Comeback

40:51 AI Images and Videos: Sensationalism in Disasters

45:15 Closing Remarks

46:50 Tribute to D.J. ‘Flash’ Davies

[badrcputation]

— "Oh, yes, wonderful!" His laugh almost like a cackle, eyes squeezing into a thin line as he smiles - what a response! Exactly the kind of answer he was hoping for!

"You may call me Mr. Reca. I'm a director, though I've dabbled into screenwriting and acting myself." He takes a bow and offers a hand, palm up.

"You might have heard of me, but if you haven't, that's no issue. Familiarity is not required for me to make you my next star."

IT FEEDS INTO HER EGO, PREENING IN HER VANITY, CHIN LIFTING WITH A BLINDING SMILE. always the show-woman, luxuriating in the spotlight, no matter how awful it may be. was she meant to restart the cycle or was this just a hint towards her masochistic tendencies. fate, what a fickle mistress. ❝ hah! thank you for recognizin' quality, love. the name's ophelia, i don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting, sweet thing~ ❞

[brutalpath]

      "you don't gotta do anything like that, now." if he sounds wary, it's just because he is. not that he's subtle about it; apprehension lay just behind his neutral expression, vaguely curling the corners of his mouth. he's not even sure what's being offered— just that he doesn't trust a grin that toothsome.

      he pauses, shouldering the heavy bag. "and— i doubt they'd have anything my size."

@daemondaes // for The Baby.

[lotus-n-l0ve]

THREADS OF AFFECTION : THE MONTAGE

— Biker!Ryomen Sukuna x Bestfriend!Female Reader

Sometimes, The One You Need Has Always Been There.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

*⁠.⁠✧ SYNOPSIS : After a rough experience with your boyfriend, you turn to your best friend Sukuna. As the night goes on words unravel. The tension between you two grows and everything lay in your hand. But one thing for sure—Sukuna will always be there for you, no matter what.

*⁠.⁠✧ WARNINGS & TAGS : No cheating, bestfriend!sukuna, biker! sukuna, one sided pining, almost rape, traumatizing elements, vulgar language, confession, friends to lovers, cuddle, hurt/comfort, fluff, university au, 6.7k words.

*⁠.⁠✧ — NAVIGATION // JUJUTSU KAISEN MASTERLIST

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE. MINORS DNI, IF YOU DO THEN IT'S YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

*⁠.⁠✧ — CHAPTERS・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

PART ONE

After a rough experience with your boyfriend, you turn to your best friend Sukuna. As the night goes on words unravel. The tension between you two grows and everything lay in your hand. But one thing for sure—Sukuna will always be there for you, no matter what.

PART TWO

The next morning of everything going down with Ryle, you find solace in Sukuna's arms. After a talk with Shoko, you realise how oblivious you were and come to accept your feelings for Sukuna.

© 𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐔𝐒-𝐍-𝐋𝟎𝐕𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 — all content rights belongs to LOTUS-N-L0VE. do not plagiarise any works and do not repost or translate onto any other sites.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

[lullabyes22-blog]

Hi lullabyes, would u mind sharing your take on the flashback with young Silco, Vander, and Felicia? :O

It's adorable. It's touching. It's sweet. It's a serene moment of intimacy and family (or polycule) bonding in an otherwise deeply frenetic season.

It's also so surreal it may as well be a fever dream.

I should note, at this stage I've shut off my cognitive reasoning about Arcane and begun approaching this as if it's a series of exquisitely crafted, animated short films that are all about to collide into a beautiful disaster.

Because that's what it is.

S2 has thrown a lot of the intelligent plotting out the window to embrace the chaos.  Whether due to time constraints, intellectual fatigue, or creative indulgence, I feel like we have a show that's now just hurtling breakneck towards the finish line. Previous story threads that once held weight and were the driving force behind character arcs and subplots, have since been abandoned. Nuanced motivations and character growth are being tossed to the wayside for the sake of action, montages, music videos, and a cavalier, anything-goes approach to world-building.

And yet, it's still such an incredible spectacle to behold.

@ravenkinnie delightfully noted that she is now watching this show with her pussy.

I agree 100%. S2 is a full-body experience, and one I find myself wholly consumed by. It's like a one-night stand you weren't expecting to be so fucking good. And when the sun comes up, you know it's going to hurt to say goodbye, and there'll be no follow-up call.

But damn, you enjoyed the shit out of that experience.

So yeah, the flashback was fucking adorable. I love the genuine emotion and closeness between the three characters. I adore the idea of Felicia, Silco and Vander being childhood friends (or, again, a very messy polycule) and both men sort of falling apart without her Manic Pixie Dream Girl presence in their lives. It's a nice little character arc.

However.

I cannot reconcile this scene with the rest of S1. It feels completely disconnected from the reality of the show and the world around them. The flashback has absolutely no impact on the current events, nor does it have any foreshadowing. The flashback exists solely to provide us with a glimpse into the past, with sweet little parallels to serve as bonbons that make us coo and sigh. It completely glosses over Silco's deeply, blackly visceral hatred of Vi in S1, reduces the class struggle culminating in the Day of Ash to "Oh, Silco. If only you've protested for your basic civil rights in a peaceful manner instead of tossing a molotov cocktail, you'd still have your family, a place in the community, not to mention your eye," does not really explain why Benzo reacted to Silco's appearance by calling him an animal, and, most importantly, gives the lie to the entire dynamic between Silco and Jinx.

We were led to believe that Felicia's death was the catalyst for Silco and Vander's falling out.  That if Silco had found Vander's letter in their little Brokeback bunk, they would've worked out their differences and found peace together. That they'd have raised Felicia's anklebiters side-by-side as the Zaundads of the revolution.

Except Silco is also the man selling Evil Anime PCP (Shimmer) as an economic cheat-code to earn respect for his people, and Vander is basically Captain Centrist and traumatized by war, and there is NO WAY they would've seen eye-to-eye on their respective methods. There's no way they would've come to any sort of accord. And there's no way Silco would've forgiven the man who mutilated and left him possibly sheared of half his lifespan, any more than Felicia's children would forgive the man who killed their mother.

It's such an incongruous narrative beat.

Which brings me to the other point:

Silco and Jinx.

imo, while I love the idea of Silco carrying either a secret torch for Felicia, or seeing her as a sister he'll always love, and while I absolutely treasure the idea of Jinx being a daily reminder of what he's fighting for - "I'm doing this for us, Jinx." - it sort of cheapens the key connection between them. In S1, Silco and Jinx's arc is, in my eyes, one of the best things about the series, and so incredibly well-written and executed. Silco is a monster, yes, but his monstrosity is the product of systemic and individual trauma, and the inextricable bleedthrough between the two. Finding this little girl and bringing her up under his wing, he has the chance to be the steadying hand and safe harbor he lost after Vander's betrayal. His monstrousness is not something he inflicts on her; it is something that, rather, grows on JInx like a kudzu vine, as the terrain of her damaged mind is already fertile for his worldview and methods to take root and thrive.

He is, perhaps, the best example of nurture triumphing over nature, even if his nurturing is rather, uh, extreme.

But if their bond is predicated on Felicia, rather than two strangers finding each other in the wilderness of heartbreak and learning to let their black hearts beat, messily entwined, as one family unit, and if Silco's obsession with Jinx is merely a projection of his guilt for killing her mother, and, by extension, a projection of his love for Felicia onto her daughter...

It's just.

Do y'all remember those uncomfortable frames that the showrunners admitted were deliberate, despite the evidence in the written text suggesting a familial bond? The subtext that, all the way into S2, carries the implication of a romantic relationship between a father and his daughter?

Well.

The implications now threaten to melt into explicit text, and the uncomfortable frames have turned into Unfortunate Implications, and I am not sure how I feel about this.

 It's not giving Lily and Snape; it's giving Sansa and Baelish.

It's giving the showrunners a big, fat "YEESH" rating from CPS.

And it's giving us the same, old, tired trope of a monstrous man unable to form an attachment unless it's through the lens of prior attachments, that whole 'You remind me so much of her' and the like.

 (I also admit I am the world's biggest hypocrite as the entire premise of Forward but Never Forget/XOXO is that the core foursome of Vander, Silco, Lika and Sevika knew each other, and that those ghosts haunt the machinery of the present day. But I try my damnedest to make plain there's politics buffeting all these relationships, and despite all their efforts to claw at self-sovereignty, reinvention and a new order, the past is a stubborn bitch that refuses to let go.)

(Also in FnF, Silco is triggered by Lika rather than into her in any affectionate or romantic way, because they're so similar: pragmatic survivors who aren't above rule-bending to get their way, and at their core just want a smoke break, a stiff drink, and a nap. It's a mutual respect rather than an affection, which is why she bestows on him the dubious honor of mercy killing her if she's too wounded on the Day of Ash to continue on.)

(He's the one person who could, and would, do her the service. It's kinship, and Jinx is the bright torch of their shared ambitions and ingenuity given both wing and voice.)

But anyway.

The flashback is a fever-dream. The kind you have when you're high on cold meds and can't think straight, and the world is a blur of sensations and memories that seem vivid in the moment but melt away into madness when you're better. It's a scene meant to be savored rather than interrogated. And I think if the showrunners had the time and inclination, we would've gotten a second episode solely dedicated to the flashback, rather than shoehorning it in. But since they're clearly trying to tie everything up with a neat bow before the finale, I don't blame them for having to skim past it and focus on the vibes/emotional resonance rather than the substance of a meaningfully written scene.

But hey.

Fanfic writers will have a field day with the open-ended dynamic and the fandom will never fucking stop, so that's nice.

Also we got loads of fantastic gifs of Young Silco. Bless.

<3

tl;dr: I've switched my critical brain off and decided to just enjoy the ride. It's so fucking epic. 

Also, Felicia was delightful and I hope her brotherhood/polycule/whatever with Silco and Vander gets its own spinoff, a la Road to El Dorado (or Zaun.)

[muunsick]

Peeping where they ought not to peep wasn't exactly a habit of theirs, but there was little else to entertain oneself with out here, so naturally, their eyes fell to Ceres. They stared, just a few moments past appropriate, and realized a hair too late that they were dangerously close to committing a faux pas. They had caught the flash of a pale chest, speckled with dots, shimmering with rain water.

Eden suddenly found great interest in the rock at their feet.

"Well, your sense of direction is probably better than mine." they muttered, itching passively at the marred skin on their cheek. "I ah—was planning on going home, once the rain stopped, but I don't know if that's a great idea right now." Eden gestured awkwardly around their eye. Even now, they still felt the discomforting wriggle of their slimy stowaway, drawn towards its sibling, resting in the skull of the woman beside them.

"I say we stick to your plan. Reach a settlement, fill up our bellies, and hope we're lucky enough to find a solution to our little problems." One could hardly classify this as a plan. It lacked structure and left too many things up to chance. Eden's shoulders sagged, weighed down with both the soggy clothing on their back and the ever dwindling chance they'll come out of this unscathed. They were never good at improvising. Hells, they were quite talentless overall. The weakest link, a ball and chain on Ceres' ankle, but they'll play the part of a dependable ally. Fake it till' you make it, eh?

"I'd hate to get more water in my shoes, but maybe it'd be good to keep moving? While we still have daylight." they suggested, quite reluctantly. "I … really don't want to be out and about past dark."

The pale woman pulled off her soaked jacket, trying to squeeze out the water. The cloth clung stubbornly to her skin, and while she wasn’t particularly bothered by the sensation, the cold was starting to seep in, and she hated the cold.

“A beautiful name,” Ceres mumbled, a hint of a smile on her lips. She was confident enough in her abilities to handle Eden if she posed a threat. The thought of throwing Eden into the rain to cool her down or fleeing like a startled cat brought a chuckle to her lips. She imagined the tiefling hissing at her, water dripping from her horns.

Eden’s question lingered in the air, and Ceres found it hard to answer. Which direction was she heading? She was following the path the energy called her to, a tug she couldn’t quite explain. She shrugged her shoulders. “I followed the path and hoped that the fresh water here meant there had to be a settlement nearby. If not for a healer,” she added, acknowledging Eden's point that not just any healer could remove the tadpole, “then at least to stock up on food, find out where exactly I am, and progress from there.”

She threw her jacket over a dry branch, at least hoping it would dry somewhat. She began to unbutton her blouse, the cold air biting at her skin. The tree was too small to set up her tent, and any attempt would result in everything getting drenched. She glanced back at Eden, the rain still pouring down around them. “What about you?” she asked, genuinely curious.

[he-is-lightning-in-a-bottle]

I am enjoying how the tighter script in the Japanese version is making it even more obvious that Payu/Arashi really did have every reason to believe Rain/Rei was coming onto him.

It felt obvious to me in the Thai version, but there was so much filler dialog that it was easy to get lost in the weeds. In the Japanese version, we see Rei blurt out to Arashi that he is handsome, then cut directly to him gushing about how handsome he is to Kai. Then we get Kai reminding Rei (and us) that his admiration of Hot Motorcycle Guy doesn't sound very hetero, and then we see Rei defending Hot Motorcycle Guy's hotness against the rumors of Arashi's hotness only to be floored when he discovers they're the same person. And then he really DOES look like he's attracted to Arashi that night, everything from staring at him at the dinner to initiating touch to agreeing to go home with him to sitting on his bed when invited to SAYING YES when Arashi asks if he can do more. Arashi is pretty blameless in this scenario, and immediately backed off when he realized Rei wasn't meaning to offer sex (just mutual attraction). And after finding Rei in his bed in the middle of the night, is it any wonder he continued to flirt in the morning? Rei hasn't said he's not attracted to Arashi, only that he wasn't trying to seduce him that night.

It's just such a clear, direct thread between point A and point B. I made essentially the same mental journey in the Thai version, but the filler scenes and dialog made it a less obvious path to traverse. It felt like Rain wasn't consciously aware of his attraction, so Payu's advances felt both surprising and unwanted (but I could still see how Payu could have sincerely misread the situation). Yet in the Japanese version, it seems everyone is aware of Rei's attraction (from Kai to Arashi to Rei himself) because they're all spending the whole episode talking about it. It's talked about in basically every scene other than the 30 second montage of his failed attempts at flirting with Rinka.

All this to say, tightening the script in this Japanese version is proving really, really helpful for character and plot development, and I am here for it.

[ilbound]

closed ( ft. knives + kaen ) . / @stellarhistoria

Not often is Kaen specifically called upon , summoned from their dutiful destruction to approach Knives himself.  It is a sign of FAVOR , this calamitous doe has heard , but still doubt lurks behind their thoughts as they stand and await his arrival , perched on the precarious edge of some nervous anticipation ; what could he possibly want with them after all the time ?  Nothing with Knives is ever so straightforward , and Kaen doubts he has asked them to come merely to again acknowledge their loyalty to both him and his ideals ( truths of which have steadily become their own , oddly enough ) .

It is this incorrigible unknowing that undoes them , raises a stricken match underneath their nerves which only light ABLAZE when they sense him enter and approach.  Almost too easily , Kaen culls their uncertainty , forcing it to silence and back into the recesses as they dip their head l o w to the greater once he rounds their shoulder and stands before them.  The important thing is that they are here per request , without question.

Without lifting their head ( after all , one must not look him in the eye out of respect ) , Kaen speaks up , their tone soft but resonate , flowing through the space with a quiet p o w e r , ❝ … Wha’s th’ occasion ? ❞  Only ever alone , just the two , does the doe think themself in any position to so brazenly talk casually with him , as if t e a s i n g ( & not once has he corrected them , either ) .

[springfelt]

ʚ ˚      brown   eyes   roam   enchanting   countenance   placed   before   her,   a   hint   of   incredulity   embedded   in   her   gaze.   would   attempt   to   ask   familiar   face   behind   the   bar   mixing   concoctions   of   liqueurs   if   he   could   take   a   moment   out   of   busy   night   to   pinch   her,   unable   to   believe   that   this   could   be   anything   but   a   ridiculous   dream,   still   songbird   holds   her   tongue   as   she   slides   unfinished   glass   to   opposite   end   of   mahogany   counter.   “   i   can   look   out   for   myself.   if   anything,   someone   needs   to   be   keeping   an   eye   on   you.   ”      chides,   despite   roseate   hue   tinting   the   apples   of   her   cheeks   as   if   other   were   slowly   widdling   away   at   frozen   confines   of   beating   vessel.   a   sigh   escapes   from   brims   at   announcement   of   soused   state,   one   could   tell   from   a   mile   away   ballerina   had   been   out   of   her   element   in   gritty   alehouse.   “   you   think   ?   ”   tongue   clicks   against   roof   of   mouth   displeasure   before   she   continues.   “   i   dunno   where   you   met   that   guy,   but   i   don't   trust   him   to   get   you   home.   ”   naturally   assigns   herself   the   role   of   drunkard   assistant,   mother   would   remain   unaware   of   guileful   daughter's   absence   until   sun   shines   well   over   the   horizon.   brows   pull   together   in   utter   bewilderment   when   statement   leaves   raven's   mouth;   she   has   heard   her   fair   share   of   drunken   babble,   though,   this   one   seemingly   takes   home   a   dazzling   gold   medal.   “   we   need   to   get   you   home   or   we   can   find   out   where   your   brother   is   and   dump   you   with   him.   c'mon.   ”   proposal   of   running   away   together   tucked   far   into   the   back   of   cranium,   she   steps   back   and   pulls   delicately   on   other's   limb   —   actions   hardly   mirroring   the   gruffness   of   her   responses.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤcommotion  of  incessant  chatter  causing  blue  birds  to  spin  atop  crown  was  out  of  the  norm  for  cherub.  her  routine  :  plethora  of  academic  books  surrounding  being  with  ivory  aperture  locked  hindering  habitual  invasion  from  inebriated  elder.  uncertain  if  it  was  the  intoxicants  bubbling  in  abdomen  when  she  establishes  current  location  both  immensely  safe  and  far  more  rousing  than  eerie  confines  of  château.  how  fatherly  figure  could  down  dozen  bottles  of  intoxicant  in  one  night  stirs  in  cranium  —  when  grief  weighs  down  entirety  of  existence,  supposes  anything  to  remedy  such  anguish  would  make  do.  "  someone  has  to  look  out  for  you.  "  her  nod  is  instant,  posture  perking  as  if  she  was  prime  candidate  for  career.  incapable  of  placing  a  phone  call  due  to  crippling  anxiety  that  plagues  mental  yet  auditioning  for  role  of  bodyguard  —  alcohol  ringing  true  in  every  word  that  parted  peony  petals  lacquered  with  gloss.  "  i  think  i'm  a  little  drunk.  "  there's  a  pout  drawing  on  pretty  features  following  her  much  defeated  tone,  weight  of  cranium  settling  in  palm  of  perched  limb.  loathed  lack  of  control  over  sensory,  succumbing  to  the  putty  that  was  becoming  of  body.  "  i  took  the  hint  ...  and  i  detested  it  so  i'm  breaking  that  horrible  rule  !  i  was  thinking,  while  you  were  singing  —  you  sounded  so  pretty,  by  the  way  —  why  dont  we  just  run  away  together,  junie  ?  "

[lotus-n-l0ve]

THREADS OF AFFECTION // PART TWO

— Biker!Ryomen Sukuna x Bestfriend!Female Reader

Sometimes, The One You Need Has Always Been There.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

*⁠.⁠✧ SYNOPSIS : The next morning of everything going down with Ryle, you find solace in Sukuna's arms. After a talk with Shoko, you realise how oblivious you were and come to accept your feelings for Sukuna.

*⁠.⁠✧ WARNINGS & TAGS : Bestfriend!sukuna, biker!sukuna, cuddle, fluff, comfort, soft!sukuna, realisation, angry!shoko, university au, 3.7k words.

*⁠.⁠✧ NOTE FROM LOTUS : I'm such a sucker for soft Sukuna. This takes place the next morning after part one.

*⁠.⁠✧ — NAVIGATION // JUJUTSU KAISEN MASTERLIST

➥ THREADS OF AFFECTION : THE MONTAGE

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE. MINORS DNI, IF YOU DO THEN IT'S YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY.・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

Sunlight filtered through the black blinds, casting soft rays across the apartment. You slowly stirred up to the rhythm of the heartbeat. Your head against a firm chest, Sukuna’s chest. Your bodies were tangled under the warm duvet. The room you were in was his bedroom.

How did you end up here? The last thing you remembered was crying on the couch in his living room, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from everything that had happened with Ryle. And yet, here you were now, in his bed, tangled in the sheets with Sukuna’s arm around you.

You carefully lifted your head, trying not to disturb him, but the second you did, his arm tightened around you instinctively. You held your breath as Sukuna stirred, and before you could react, his body pressed down on yours, his head nestling into the crook of your neck.

For a moment you layed there, letting yourself cocooned in the warmth of his presence. Your gaze drifts upward to the mirrored ceiling.The reflection above you was surreal-Sukuna's huge frame looming over you, his face hidden against your neck. His breath, warm and steady, brushed against your skin, sending a wave of goosebumps down your spine. It was a strange sense of peace, one that made everything else feel distant and unimportant. In that instant, you looked like a couple-like you truly belonged there, like this was where you were always meant to be.

You gently stroked the dark tattoos that adorned his hand that was draped over your belly, tracing the intricate patterns with the tips of your fingers. His skin was warm, the markings mesmerizing under your touch, each curve and line a part of him that you'd never really noticed before. It was almost as though you were discovering a different side to him, one that was quietly vulnerable in his sleep, wrapped up in the simplicity of the moment.

Sukuna's breathing deepened, his chest rising and falling in rhythm with yours. The weight of his presence was both grounding and comforting. In the silence, there was a stillness between you two, something unspoken yet deeply understood. You let your fingers linger on his hand, a small but meaningful connection.

Instinctively your fingers brushed up his arm, gliding over the black t-shirt, and then began playing with his soft hair. You stifled a laugh when you felt him purring like a contented cat, pulling you closer as if not wanting to let go. But before the moment could stretch any further, the phone on the nightstand began to ring.

As you started to shift, trying to escape the warmth of his embrace, Sukuna’s grip tightened, pulling you back to him. His voice was low and groggy, but there was something softer about it, something uncharacteristic.

“Where are you going?” He murmured, his usual dominance replaced with a tenderness that caught you off guard.

You felt at a loss for words, “Your phone is ringing.”

Sukuna’s brows frown. It would have been a cute sight if not for the circumstances. He let out a frustrated sigh. His grip on you, not loosening in the slightest.

“I don’t care about the damn phone,” He muttered, his voice still thick with sleep, “Stay here.”

You felt the warmth of his breath against your skin as he pulled you closer, his body curling protectively around you. There was something comforting in the way he held you, as if the outside world didn’t matter in this small bubble of peace he’d created around the two of you. Despite his usual tough demeanor, there was a tenderness to him now that you hadn’t expected, a gentleness that made your heart flutter in a way you couldn’t quite explain.

You hesitated, glancing at the phone again as it continued to ring, but the soft pressure of Sukuna’s arm around you was enough to make you reconsider. For once, you didn’t want to deal with the outside world either. You just wanted to stay in this moment, in this space between dreams and reality, wrapped up in the warmth of his embrace.

“Let it ring,” You whispered, your fingers gently brushing through his hair once more.

Sukuna hummed in agreement, his chest rumbling beneath your ear, “Good choice.”

You wonder how he would react after the drowsiness had faded away. Bet he would be embarrassed. The phone continued to ring for a few more times before going silent. Just as you were about to get comfortable again, your phone started ringing on your side of the nightstand. As much as you didn't want to receive the call, what if it was something important.

You reluctantly stretched your hand and grabbed the device off of the nightstand. Your fingers hovered over the phone, the name "Shoko" flashing brightly on the screen. Sukuna grumbled, his grip loosening slightly, allowing you to sit up as you answered the call. His groggy gaze followed your movements, though he stayed sprawled on the bed, his hair messily framing his face.

“Hello?” Your voice was soft, still thick with exhaustion from the night before.

“Where the hell are you?” Shoko's panicked voice burst through the line, jolting you fully awake, “Do you realize we have a History exam in an hour? And you’re just... gone? Are you okay?”

Your stomach dropped. The exam. How could you have forgotten? Everything with Ryle, Sukuna, and the emotional whirlwind had completely derailed your sense of time and priority.

“I... I completely forgot,” You admitted, your voice tinged with guilt, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Shoko sighed, her frustration bleeding into concern, “Forget the exam for a second. Are you okay? You’ve been acting off for a while now, and then you disappeared. I was worried sick!”

“I’m fine,” You assured her, though your voice wavered slightly, “I’ll explain everything later, I promise. Just... I’ll meet you at the exam venue.”

“Alright,” Shoko said reluctantly, “But if you’re not here in thirty minutes, I’m coming to find you myself. Got it?”

“Got it,” You said with a small smile.

As the call ended, you placed the phone back on the nightstand, letting out a deep breath. Sukuna had propped himself up on one elbow, his crimson eyes studying you with quiet intensity.

“Something wrong?” He asked, his voice low and rough, still laced with sleep.

“Just Shoko,” You said, standing and stretching, “We have a major exam today, and I completely forgot about it.”

Sukuna raised a brow, his gaze trailing over you as you scrambled to gather your things, “Do you even have enough time to get ready and make it there?”

“Not really,” You admitted with a sheepish smile.

He let out a deep sigh and swung his legs over the side of the bed, “I’ll take you.”

You blinked at him, surprised, “You don’t have to—”

“I said I’ll take you,” Sukuna cut you off, his tone leaving no room for argument, “You’ll never make it on time otherwise.”

Though his brusqueness was typical, there was an underlying concern in his voice that made you pause. You nodded, mumbling a soft “thank you” as you got up from the bed.

"About last night…" Sukuna's deep voice broke the silence, and you turned to look at him. He was sitting up now, more awake and sobar, his tousled hair and tired eyes making him look far more vulnerable than usual, "I... shouldn’t have said all that."

Your heart clenched at his words, unsure of what he meant, "What do you mean?"

He ran a hand through his hair, his usual confidence replaced by something you couldn’t quite place.

"I just don’t want you to feel like I pressured you into anything. You were upset, and I…" He trailed off, his jaw tightening, "I don’t want to make things weird between us."

You blinked, taken aback by his honesty. Sukuna wasn’t the type to explain himself, let alone show this kind of vulnerability.

"It’s not weird," You said quietly, though your heart betrayed you by beating a little too fast, "I mean… It was a lot to process, but I know you. You can never force me into doing something I don't want to."

Sukuna's gaze locked with yours, the intensity in his crimson eyes making it hard to look away.

"I meant what I said, though," He said, his voice firm, "I’ll always be here for you. Whatever you need, Ai."

Your breath hitched at the way he said your name, the weight behind his words making your cheeks flush. You looked down at your hands, unsure of what to say. The vulnerability between the two of you was almost suffocating, and yet it felt like something had shifted—something you weren’t quite ready to confront.

"Thank you," You finally said, your voice barely above a whisper. "For everything. Last night… and now."

Sukuna let out a low chuckle, though it lacked his usual arrogance.

"Don’t mention it," He said, rubbing the back of his neck, "But seriously, if you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

The tension lingered as the two of you sat there, the weight of unspoken words filling the room. Eventually, Sukuna got up and stretched, his movements casual as if trying to break the awkwardness.

“I know.” Your words were filled with confidence……and trust.

Within minutes, you were back on Sukuna’s bike, your arms tightly wrapped around his waist as the powerful engine roared to life. The cool morning air bit at your skin, but the warmth radiating from Sukuna’s body kept you grounded. Good thing you had an extra pair of clothes in his house, so you didn't have to go back to your dorm to change.

As he sped through the city streets, cutting through traffic with precision, you couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of relief. Despite the chaos of the last 24 hours, Sukuna was here, steady and unwavering.

By the time you reached the classroom, Shoko was pacing near the entrance of the university, her expression a mix of worry and annoyance. Sukuna pulled up to the curb, and you climbed off the bike quickly, giving him a grateful look.

“Thanks, Kuna,” you said softly.

He smirked, ruffling your hair in a way that was surprisingly gentle, “Ace that exam, Ai. I’ll see you later.”

As he roared off into the distance, Shoko grabbed your arm, her sharp gaze scanning your face.

“You have so much explaining to do,” She said firmly, though her voice was softer now, tinged with relief.

“I know,” You said, giving her a small smile, “I’ll tell you everything. Just... after the exam.”

Shoko nodded, and together, the two of you headed inside, ready to tackle the challenge ahead. Though your heart still felt heavy with the events of the night before, you also felt lighter somehow. No matter what happened next, you knew you weren’t alone—and that made all the difference.

After an agonizing hour of scribbling answers on the exam paper, you and Shoko found yourselves sitting in the university cafeteria. You sip the coffee nervously under Shoko’s eagle eye that were throwing daggers in your direction, trying to process all the tea you had dumped on her.

“So you mean to tell me That little shit tried to force himself on you and you had to threaten him with Sukuna's name to let you go.” Shoko started, gritting words through her teeth, “He told you to get out of his house in the middle of the night, alone, and then called another chick to fuck?”

You nodded your head, “Pretty much.”

“Is he the reason you were acting so down? Did he force into agreeing to sleep with him? I'm gonna kill that fucker!” Shoko shot up from the chair,‌ ready for some bloodshed but you quickly held her back.

“No, don't. He's not worth wasting our time.” You pleaded as you had no doubt Shoko would actually skin him alive.

Shoko huffed and sat back down, her lips pursed, “Fine but only because you told me to and that asshole doesn't deserve even an ounce of my energy.”

You smiled faintly, feeling relieved, “Thanks, Shoko. You are the best.”

“Don't think you are off the hook.” Shoko narrowed her eyes at you, “All this still doesn't explain how you ended up in your bestfriend, Sukuna's bed.”

Her words made you groan, “You make it sound so dirty. We just fell asleep in his bed. That's it. Nothing happened.”

Shoko scoffed, “Drop that bullshit. If that was the case then why do you keep blushing like a tomato whenever you mention him?”

You genuinely had no excuses to give her. Because the truth was, something had happened. Something big. Sukuna had confessed that he liked you—no, more than liked you. The weight of that revelation still sat heavy on your chest, impossible to ignore.

Shoko studied your flustered expression, “Wait… did he finally confess his feelings for you?”

Your eyes widened at Shoko's question, but before you could say anything, she gasped dramatically, slamming her hand on the table.

Shoko slammed her hands on the table, “He did, didn't he? O my god! I have to tell Utahime. She owes me 10 bucks.”

“Shoko.” You hissed, “Keep your voice down. Also what does Utahime have anything to do with it?”

Shoko leaned back on the chair, “You see, we made a bet. I said Sukuna will confess to you before this year ends and she said he will take at least 2 more years.”

The cafeteria buzzed with life, but your focus was solely on Shoko, who looked far too pleased with herself. You groaned, burying your face in your hands.

“You couldn't find anything else to bet on?” You groaned, “How did you even know that he likes me?”

“Me? The whole university knows about it. Even my cousin’s neighbour’s 3 year old daughter knows.”

Shoko's words had your jaw dropped to the floor, “What? And no one told me before?”

“I mean, it's as obvious as the sun in the sky.” She shrugged, “Sukuna’s been head over heels for you since, like, forever. He doesn’t even bother hiding it anymore. He literally calls you Ai.”

The more Shoko continued speaking, the more stupid you felt. He's been calling you ‘love’ all alone and you never questioned it or even realised. How stupid can someone be?

You groaned, slumping against the table, “He’s been calling me that for years. Are you serious right now? How did I not notice? Am I really that stupid?”

Shoko smirked, sipping her coffee like she had just won a game of poker, “Oh, sweet summer child, you’re not just stupid—you’re a master at it. Sukuna could probably hire a skywriter to spell it out, and you’d still think he was just trying to prank you.”

You narrowed your eyes on her, “Okay, that’s a bit much.”

“Is it?” Shoko raised a brow, "Remember when he beat up that guy in freshman year because he ‘breathed in your direction’? Or when he memorized your entire coffee order, down to the number of sugar packets, and started showing up with it every morning? Or—my personal favorite—when he glared at literally everyone who sat next to you during lectures until they moved?”

“Those weren’t signs!” You protested weakly, “He’s just… overprotective! And maybe a little territorial.”

Shoko nearly spat out her coffee, “A little? Girl, he once told Gojo that if he even looked at you wrong, he’d throw him out a window.”

You blinked, stunned, “Wait. When did that happen?”

“Last semester,” Shoko said casually, leaning back in her chair, “You were too busy studying for midterms to notice. But the rest of us? Oh, we noticed. It was like watching a National Geographic documentary on territorial animals.”

You buried your face in your hands again, “This is so embarrassing. How do I even face him now? I didn’t just miss the signs—I bulldozed right over them.”

“Simple.” Shoko grinned mischievously, “You go up to him and say, ‘Hey, Sukuna, I finally realized you’ve been in love with me all this time. My bad. Let’s get married.’”

You shot her a glare, “Shoko, I swear to God—”

“Relax, I’m kidding. Kind of.” She leaned forward, her expression softening slightly, “But seriously, just talk to him. The guy literally worships the ground you walk on. You’ve already got him wrapped around your finger; now it’s just a matter of admitting you’re into him too.”

You sighed, playing with your coffee cup, “It’s not that simple. What if things get weird? What if—”

“Stop overthinking,” Shoko interrupted, pointing her spoon at you like it was a weapon, “You survived last night, didn’t you? He confessed, and the world didn’t implode. In fact, judging by that ridiculous blush on your face, I’d say things are looking pretty good for you two.”

You hesitated, but a small smile tugged at your lips, “You think so?”

“I know so,” Shoko said confidently, “Now hurry up and finish that coffee. We’ve got class in ten minutes, and I’m not letting you flake just because you’re having a romantic crisis.”

You laughed despite yourself, the weight on your chest feeling just a little lighter. Maybe Shoko was right. Maybe it was time to stop overthinking and start trusting what was already so obvious to everyone else—including Sukuna.

At the end of the day, you sit in the quiet library, waiting for Sukuna to pick you up. What Shoko told you stayed in your mind. The whole day you thought about your options and your feelings. Sukuna was an important part of your life. Imagining a day where Sukuna will not be with you left a bitter taste in your mouth.

Sukuna has been there for you through everything—your highs, your lows, even the moments when you felt like the world was crumbling around you. He’d seen every part of you and never once turned away. If that wasn’t love, then what was?

You stared blankly at the book in front of you, your thoughts too chaotic to focus. The image of Sukuna’s sincere, tender expression from that night replayed in your mind. You didn’t think he was even capable of looking that soft, yet there he was, proving you wrong in the best way possible.

Your phone pinged with a notification, breaking the chain of thoughts, bringing you back to reality.

Kuna ♡ᥫ᭡.ִֶָ : Come out I'm waiting.

Even the heart beside his name, saved in the contact, seemed to be mocking you. Who saves their friend’s name with a heart? How oblivious were you? To his feelings as well as yours. You two could have been celebrating your anniversaries had you not been so oblivious.

Returning the book to the shelf, you hurried down the hallway. Your steps, faster than usual just like your heart. Crossing the front gate of the university, you see Sukuna with his bike on the side of the road. His hair damp, probably took a shower after their basketball practice and then rushed to pick you up.

You jog up to him, wearing the helmet he handed you.

“How was your exam?”

"Better than I thought," You replied, fastening the helmet under your chin.

You climbed onto the bike behind him, your arms automatically wrapping around his waist. It was a familiar action, yet today it felt different—more intimate, more charged.

Sukuna started the engine, the bike purring to life beneath you, "Good. Knew you’d ace it, like always."

The ride home was quiet except for the hum of the engine and the rush of the wind. Your mind, however, was anything but quiet. Shoko's words replayed in your head like a broken record. He literally worships the ground you walk on. The realization hit you harder than the cool wind brushing against your face.

When Sukuna finally pulled up in front of your house, you hesitated to let go, your arms lingering around his waist. He noticed, glancing back at you over his shoulder with a raised brow.

"You good, Ai?" he asked, his tone softer now, his crimson eyes scanning your face.

You nodded, but your grip tightened slightly, "Yeah… I just—"

The words caught in your throat. How could you even begin to say what you were feeling?

"Just what?" he pressed, turning off the engine and shifting slightly to face you.

You took a deep breath, willing yourself to be brave. No more overthinking. Just go for it.

You got down from the bike, deciding to stand in front of him, “Are you free tomorrow night?”

Sukuna raised an eyebrow, “Tomorrow? Yeah, why?”

Infact Sukuna was not free tomorrow night. He practically threatened his teammates, especially Gojo, into agreeing to practice till late because their match was coming up. It was an important match, against Eastwood University, their sworn enemy. But it's not like the match was more important than whatever you needed him for.

“Just keep your schedule empty tomorrow.”

Sukuna’s gaze lingered on you, curious and amused. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the handlebars of his bike.

“Alright,” He drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips, “But you owe me an explanation, Ai. What’s this about?”

You shrugged, trying to play it cool even as your heart pounded in your chest, “You’ll see tomorrow.”

He chuckled, straightening up, “Fine. I’ll bite. But if this is one of your pranks…”

“It’s not a prank, Kuna.” You cut him off, meeting his eyes with a rare seriousness, “Just… trust me, okay?”

That wiped the smirk off his face. He tilted his head slightly, studying you like he was trying to read your thoughts. After a moment, he nodded.

“I always do.” he said softly.

His words lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. You nodded quickly, breaking eye contact before your resolve could falter.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, drive safely.” you muttered, turning to head inside before he could see the blush spreading across your cheeks.

As you closed the door behind you, you leaned against it, your head spinning. You had no idea how tomorrow would go, but for once, you were determined to take the leap. Sukuna had always been there for you, and now it was your turn to take a chance on him.

You just hoped he’d be ready for what you were about to do.

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