Chapter Text
It started when he was 13. Yuuta couldn’t taste the cake he had for his birthday party. Family gathered around him as he blew out the candles and took the first bite. Yuuta was quick to school his face into neutrality at the shock of not being able to taste anything. Maybe he was just sick or his tastes were changing. No need to worry everyone at the party.
When he got home that night, Yuuta washed his face and brushed his teeth like normal. Said goodnight to his parents and went to bed. Once he was sure they were asleep, Yuuta snuck out of his room and into the kitchen. Letting out a shaky breath, he tried another bite of his cake. Nothing. Absolutely no flavor. That’s okay, he thought. Maybe it’s just the cake.
Yuuta went rummaging through the pantry and pulled out a sleeve of cookies. Quietly slipping one out of the package, Yuuta was met with only a crumbling sensation in his mouth. He began to panic. Quickly grabbing something else to try, Yuuta landed on a bag of potato chips.
Worried about waking his parents, Yuuta ever so slowly peeled the bag open. Every crinkle causing him to flinch. Once open, he carefully snuck his hand inside to retrieve a single lone chip. This is it, he thought. Placing the chip on his tongue, Yuuta was ecstatic to find he could taste the saltiness of this chip! Perhaps his tastes really were just changing.
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His tastes were changing alright. Yuuta was losing them completely. Over the next several months, Yuuta slowly lost his ability to taste anything at all. First it was sweets, which was easy to hide. He only ate sweets on occasion and people were quick to believe his lie that sweets hurt his teeth. No one even questioned it.
By 14, he had lost the ability to taste sour things. Umeboshi no longer packed the punch Yuuta craved. Food no longer had zest to it. It’s easy to cut out stuff you don’t eat very often, but Yuuta was now unable to enjoy some of his favorite foods. The only things he could taste were extremely salty or extremely bitter. Yuuta would load up his dishes with salt in an attempt to taste anything. This began to draw some unwanted attention and feedback from people worried about his health.
Not too long after that, it wasn’t a problem anymore. People assumed Yuuta was being more conscious of his diet. Little did they know he was force feeding himself and drinking black coffee like it was water just to survive. The bitter breath of black coffee was one of the only flavors he could still enjoy.
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By the age of 16, Yuuta looked like a wreck. The ability to taste was completely gone now, leaving him with no appetite. His body thinned out and dark circles took up permanent residence under his eyes. He had slowly closed himself off from any friends and distanced himself from his family. Yuuta knew what this was but had been denying it for years.
They had talked about it in his biology class. A separation among people. It was innate, something you were born with. A curse. Most people were born normal and would live out their days as such. Others who were not so fortunate would either be born as a fork or a cake.
Yuuta knew he was a fork. He stopped fighting himself and accepted his fate. However, that doesn’t mean anyone else needed to know the truth.
Forks were generally not accepted in society. They were either outcasts or predators. Yuuta had decided to isolate himself before society could. People thought Yuuta was a lonely weirdo, which wasn’t too far from the truth. Oh to have been born a cake. They lived most of their days in ignorant bliss.
A cake did not know they were one unless a fork came into contact with their bodily fluids. Forks lose the ability to taste anything except for a cake. Yuuta knew this. That’s why he isolated himself as best he could from society. He feared what would happen if anyone found him out. Would they leave him? Would they ostracize him? He could not take that risk.
Yuuta spent his days a hollow shell of who he used to be, until the fateful night he discovered he was a sorcerer. It was a warm summer evening, bugs buzzing and trees blowing.
Yuuta was on his way home from classes. He tended to stay late at school to avoid the rush of students going home for the day. His parents believed he was in a club after school but they didn’t need any more reason to worry over him. Waiting on the school grounds for everyone to clear out, basking in the warm summer sun, his only friends were the noisy cicadas.
Once he had deemed it quiet enough to head home, Yuuta began to leave the school grounds. Weaving through streets on his journey home, Yuuta remembered to stop at the conbini on his way back. His mom asked him to pick up some items for supper.
Making a quick trip inside, Yuuta located the ingredients she requested. He paid for the goods, giving a quick bow on his way out. As he exited the store and rounded the corner, a large man shoved him into an alleyway.
“Give me your wallet,” he muttered, pulling out a knife. Yuuta froze and broke into a sweat. This is why he hated leaving the house. His knees began to buckle and shake. Before Yuuta could get a single word out, a large monster-like creature appeared out of thin air.
The sight of her was jarring. She had razor sharp fangs that could puncture flesh with just a graze. Her white, leathery skin pulled tight around her face, showcasing her jaws and rows of teeth. Tentacles flowed down her back like hair. Long talons sat at the end of longer fingers and hulking arms. She was a beast.
At the sight of her, Yuuta let out a shrill and wet his pants. The assailant still held his knife to Yuuta, poised to stab him if he didn’t hand over his wallet. Could he not see her??
Before Yuuta could even raise the question, the beast beside him launched an attack on the mugger. His head ripped clean off his body in mere seconds. Blood splattered across the alleyway and along Yuuta’s face. He let out an agonizing wail at the scene before him. Why was this happening to him?
Yuuta stood there panicked and screaming when another man approached him from behind. Feeling a heavy hand clamp down on his shoulder, Yuuta turned to look at who was witness to this horrible scene.
A tall man with a bandage covering his eyes stood beside him. Could he even see? Was Yuuta in the clear?
“That’s a pretty powerful curse you’re wielding kid,” the man turned to look at Yuuta. Wiping some of the blood off Yuuta’s face, “Is this your first time?”
“M-my first time what? What d- what do you mean?” Yuuta began to really panic. “Did you see what happened? Am I going to go to jail? I can’t go to jail, I have to get this stuff home to my mom. Oh gods, my MOM! She is going to kill me. This can't be real, this isn't real, this is-”
“Hey, deep breath for me,” the tall man cut him off mid spiral. “My name is Gojo Satoru, but you can call me Gojo Sensei〜”
Gojo? Yuuta knew that name. The Gojo clan was infamous. He was talking to the Gojo Satoru?? “What is happening to me? What do you mean ‘curse’?”
Gojo let out a breathy chuckle, “Let me take you to Jujutsu High and clean you up. I’ll explain everything okay?”
Letting out a shaky breath, Yuuta nodded his head and let Gojo guide him. Going with a stranger seemed better than staying with a headless mugger. Whipping his head around, Yuuta could no longer see the white monster that had appeared. Did he make the whole thing up? Did Gojo send the monster to save him? Yuuta’s mind was swimming with questions.
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That was how Yuuta became enrolled in Jujutsu High. Gojo explained that Yuuta’s cursed energy was strong enough to rank him as a Special Grade sorcerer. It had never manifested because Yuuta had never been put into danger like that before. His subconscious kicked in and manifested his cursed energy to save himself.
Gojo said Yuuta was excellent sorcerer material and even vouched on his behalf to his parents, excluding the mugging incident however. They were thrilled at the prospect of their son working his way up the ranks to become a powerful jujutsu sorcerer. He had become a recluse over the years so they were eager to put him out there in the hopes it would help liven him up again.
Yuuta got moved into the dorms within the week and was set up to join the first year class at Jujutsu High. Along with his room, he was given three sets of uniforms. Tailored specifically for him, as Gojo sensei put it. Yuuta slipped on one and hung up the others.
As he was unpacking the last of his things, there was a knock at his bedroom door. Yuuta turned to answer it but before he could get to the door, it swung open. He was greeted with Gojo barging into his room. “Looks like you’re good and unpacked! Let’s go introduce you to your classmates.”
“Oh, um, okay sensei.” Yuuta quickly ran a hand through his hair and down his shirt. He wasn’t much for looks but he wanted to try and make a decent first impression.
Yuuta followed Gojo through the halls and around the corridors until they ended up in front of the classroom door. Gojo swung the door open, he seemed to do that a lot, and marched into the classroom with gusto. “Here is your new classmate! Give it up for Okkotsu Yuuta everyone!”
Gojo held out his arms and flashed a million watt smile with some jazzhands. However there was little to no fanfare in the reactions of his classmates. Three sets of eyes all looked him over without very much interest. Yuuta sheepishly walked into the classroom and stood beside Gojo. He felt small. His anxiety began to climb.
“Are you sure this guy is a sorcerer sensei?” Yuuta snapped his head up to see a girl with her hand in the air. She had long dark hair neatly tied back into a ponytail with thin glasses that sat at the edge of her nose. Reaching to push them back up on her face she continued her open ridicule, “no offense, but he doesn’t necessarily look that part.”
“Easy Maki, trust your sensei. Now Yuuta,” he gestured to the students in their seats. “This is Zenin Maki, Inumaki Toge aaannnddd Panda.” No explanation for the panda?? “Now go take the seat next to Inumaki-kun and we’ll begin the lecture.”
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Class consisted of Yuuta nervously taking notes while trying to ignore the stares of his classmates. He just wanted to disappear. Maybe coming to this school was a mistake. He felt like a ticking time bomb.
Once the lecture was finished, the four students were directed into the courtyard to practice their physical skills. On the walk over, Panda hung back to talk to Yuuta.
“Hey there, Okkotsu was it?” The large bear questioned. Although large and frightening in stature, he seemed quite tender and approachable.
Yuuta scratched at his neck to calm his nerves. “Ah- yes but you can call me Yuuta. No need to be so formal,” a nervous smile plastered his face as he looked up to meet Panda’s gaze.
“Well Yuuta-kun, allow me to introduce myself! I’m Panda, obviously. I am a semi-grade 2 sorcerer and an Abrupt Mutated cursed corpse.” Not a single one of those words made sense to Yuuta. “Basically I’m a panda shaped shell with three cores that live and rotate inside of me.”
Yuuta’s mind was reeling from all the new information. One day he might understand what Panda was saying but today was not that day. Regardless, he nodded his head to show he was listening as he attempted to keep up with everything Panda was saying.
Continuing on with his explanations, Panda pointed in the direction of Zenin Maki. “She’s Maki, crazy strong and resourceful. She comes from a long lineage of sorcerers. The Zenin clan is infamous for their abilities. I wouldn’t want to go toe to toe with her,” he let out a chortle at the thought.
“And over there is Toge,” his large paw outstretched and pointed towards the blonde.
“He also comes from a powerful family. The Inumaki clan are considered outlaws of jujutsu society.” He continued in a hushed voice, “Their clan has a standing policy to have jujutsu sorcerers born in the clan die out of the family tree.”
Concern and confusion crossed Yuuta’s face. Sensing it, Panda went on to explain more in depth. “He’s a cursed speech user so things he says affect him and others. His words hold cursed energy and can be dangerous to himself and anyone around him. He’s one smart cookie though,” a fond chuckle leaves him. “He figured out how to talk to people using rice ball ingredients! Who would have thought??”
Yuuta was a bit taken aback. “How do you guys understand him then?” His brows furrowed together into a puzzled look as he imagined trying to hold a conversation with the blonde.
“He’s got a general dictionary. Certain words have negative or positive meanings,” his large paw clapped Yuuta on the shoulder, offering a reassuring pat. “Once you get to talking with him, you’ll figure him out.”
The conversation falls into a comfortable silence as the two of themmake their way to the courtyard. Gojo sensei had beaten them down there and was awaiting their arrival. Clasping his hands together in front of his chest, he then threw them over his head like he was tossing confetti. “Alright everyone, time to get physical!” His corny joke was punctuated with a sleazy smirk and an eyebrow wag. The silence that followed was deafening.
Clearing his throat, Gojo continued on. “You guys will practice fighting each other in a one on one set up. Toge, Panda, you guys brawl first. Maki, Yuuta, you’re after.” Clapping his hands together, Gojo walked over to the steps to sit and watch the matches unfold.
Yuuta and Maki accompanied him, sitting on either side of their sensei. Yuuta began to rub and pinch at the skin of his arms while waiting for his turn to spar. He had become quite frail over the years, thin skin stretching over bone with little cushion.
Yuuta had no desire to eat anything so most of the time he just didn’t. He would eat in front of his family at meals together but forcing down flavorless textures was such a daunting task. Food no longer had any joy for him and eating became a nauseating chore. This led to his body thinning out and becoming frail and weak.
Malnourishment took a toll on Yuuta’s physicality over the last few years. He would need to endure a lot of training to get enough muscles to actually hold his own in any hand to hand combat.
Watching Panda and Toge fight was fascinating to watch but also made him very nervous for his own battle. Yuuta knew better than to underestimate someone he just met. Maki could and most likely would kick his ass. A shudder ran down his spine as he eyed Maki’s muscles which were visible while she sat relaxed. He swallowed the lump in his throat at the sight, turning his attention back to the field to watch the other two spar.
Yuuta watched with a mixture of awe and fear as Panda and Toge went at it. If Panda had started charging towards Yuuta, he would probably freeze up and die from the sheer terror of it. Yet, Toge seemed unphased in the least. Swiftly ducking, lunging and maneuvering his way across the battlefield with dexterity and grace. Toge leaped clear over Panda’s head, coming behind him and swinging his leg out beneath Panda’s. In one fell swoop, Panda’s legs were knocked out from under him, sending him flying face first into the turf and effectively concluding the match.
Yuuta audibly gulped as Gojo patted their backs, “Alright, you two up next!”
Maki gracefully stood up and sauntered down the steps. This match would be over before it even started. A tired sigh tumbled from his lips as he stood up, slowly making his way to the battlefield.
As he stood face to face with Maki, his eyes darted to his surroundings. Out of the corner of his eye, Yuuta spotted Panda giving him a thumbs up. His lips uptick in a small smirk. Turning back towards Maki, Yuuta stuck his hand out for her to shake it. She rolled her eyes, letting out a huff of annoyance, foregoing his handshake.
“Don’t hold back on me,” he squeaks out. Yuuta’s not even sure why he said it. A mischievous glint flashed in Maki’s eyes, her lips curling into a smirk that made his blood turn ice cold. Yuuta had just signed his own death sentence.
“Okay, ready aannddd GO!” Gojo hollered from the stairs.
In a flash Maki charged towards him. Panic settled in his bones and his legs locked up. Begging them to move, Yuuta threw himself to the side, narrowly dodging her punch. He tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Clawing at the dirt, he scrambled to get up as Maki made her way back over to him. Jumping up, Yuuta was on his two feet and poised to land a blow to Maki’s chest. His hit was easily deflected and the next thing he knew, the world was turning upside down.
Yuuta was slammed down onto his back, knocking all the air out of his lungs. He laid there wallowing in pain and gasping for breath. Every joint in his body ached and his lungs were on fire. Surely he had fractured several bones.
Yuuta turned his head to the side and watched as Maki strutted back over to the steps, her hair and skirt gently whipping in the breeze. His eyes trailed up to the clouds and rolled back into his head, the world going dark.
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Everything was muffled except for a low ringing in Yuuta’s ears. Over the chime a soft voice called out to him, it seemed to be getting closer and closer. Yuuta could almost make out the words.
“Takana?”
Yuuta’s eyes flashed open and were met with pools of amethyst staring into his soul. Toge was waving his hand in front of Yuuta’s face, “Takana??”
Blinking rapidly to try and get his bearings, Yuuta tried to make sense of what was being said to him--- wait, did he just say takana, what does that even mean?? His speech slurred as his mouth struggled to catch up with his mind. “Whaaa?”
Yuuta sluggishly turned his head to the side and was met with Panda fussing over him as well. “He’s asking if you are okay. You took quite the hit there.”
Rubbing his head, Yuuta slowly began to sit up, leaning against his arms. “I guess I was asking for that one.” Panda and Toge both let out a laugh at that.
The two of them helped Yuuta to his feet as Gojo crossed over the field to where they were. “Love your moxie kid, but next time you might want to work out before asking Maki-chan to do her worst,” his words punctuated with a boisterous laugh. “Toge-kun why don’t you take him to get something to eat and then go over to the infirmary to get checked out. Panda, you and Maki spar next.”
Panda let out a loud groan at the command. Maki was in a mood today and he did not want to get his ass kicked as well. Toge was grinning like the devil knowing that he was safe for now. Bringing Yuuta’s arm around his shoulders, he helped stabilize the boy and began to walk them to the dining hall.
Yuuta really didn’t want to eat anything, his mind coming up with excuses to get out of it. “Inumaki-kun, you don’t have to take me to eat. I can just go to the infirmary.”
With a shake of his head, Toge objected, “Okaka.” That must mean no, Yuuta thought.
His mind was whirling, trying to think of ways to take control of the situation. Before he could get any further in his plotting, Toge was approaching the doors to the dining hall. Shuffling through the entryway, Toge led Yuuta to sit at the table. Helping him into his seat then spinning on his heel to dash into the kitchen.
Yuuta could hear some shuffling in the kitchen, the sound of the fridge opening, plates clinking, water running. He had no idea what to expect. After a few minutes, Toge reemerged with a plate of three onigiri. He set the plate down in front of Yuuta and took a seat across the table from him. Onigiri wasn't so bad, Yuuta could stomach some rice.
Picking one up, he took a small bite, loose grains of rice sticking to the corners of his lips. Yuuta motioned to Toge, “You should eat one.”
Waving his hands in protest, Toge was quick to turn down the offer, “Okaka.” There was that word again.
“You really should have one,” Yuuta took another bite of the rice ball. Chewing between his words, “I really can’t eat all these.”
He pushed the plate close to Toge who finally relented. “Ahh, shake shake.”
Did that mean okay? Maybe he was starting to get the hang of Toge’s lingo. While the two ate, Yuuta decided to prod further, trying to get to know the boy better. “So how did you learn to communicate with your cursed speech?”
Toge pulled out his phone and pulled up his notes. His thumbs were flying as they raced across the keyboard. Once satisfied with his response, Toge turned his phone around and handed it to Yuuta.
I found out from a very early age that my words not only hurt others but can hurt myself. I taught myself JSL growing up but no one in my family knew it so I had to find a loophole. Saying random words out loud to see if they had any effect on me or the people around me. Trial and error, yada yada
Now we have rice ball ingredients of all things lmao
speed rundown:
shake- positive
okaka- negative
takana- concern
ikura- shit
“You know JSL?” Yuuta was stunned. He handed Toge back his phone and began to sign, “I had a friend growing up who was deaf, but my JSL is rusty though.”
Toge’s eyes lit up, his hands flying through the air as he signed excitedly. “This is great! Now we can talk shit in front of the others,” a devious smirk spread across his face, eyes squinting with mischief.
Taken aback by his brashness, Yuuta barked out a laugh. “You are quite an interesting person Inumaki-kun.”
Finishing off his onigiri, Yuuta pushed the plate towards Toge, prompting him to take the last one. “Here, you take this one. I’m feeling a bit queasy.”
Toge eyed him wearily but opted to not push the matter. Taking the final rice ball, he pulled it into two and gave Yuuta the other half. He could manage another half. Taking it from Toge’s fingers, Yuuta forced the rice down in two big bites. He attempted to school his face into neutrality in front of the blonde. If he ate any more he really would get sick.
Yuuta missed the way Toge eyed him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. If Toge had any worries, he thought better than to act on it. As they finished up their food, Toge cleared the table and prompted Yuuta to follow him to the infirmary.
It was a quick checkup from Ieiri sensei. She examined Yuuta’s head and body, quickly ruling out any serious injuries. “You are cleared to go back to training, but you need to work on your nutrition. You cannot sustain physical activity in the state your body is in currently.”
Lowering her voice, she leaned in and continued, “If you are struggling with an eating disorder, come back and talk to me alone. I can help you.” Her eyes were kind, she said the words with such a softness, as if they could break in the air. As soon as they left her mouth, she immediately straightened back up and went to finish up her clinical report. If Yuuta hadn’t been watching, he would have missed the flash of kindness in the whole of Ieiri sensei’s clinical demeanor.
“Thank you, Ieiri sensei. I’ll be going now.” With a small bow Yuuta left her office with Toge in tow. The two boys made their way back to the dorms, idly chit chatting as they walked. Yuuta’s phone buzzed in his pocket as they were walking. Taking it out, he saw a message from Gojo sensei telling him to take the day to rest. Shooting a quick thanks back, Yuuta turned to Toge.
“Gojo sensei cleared me from training for the day. Do you wanna come back to my room and watch a movie or something?” Yuuta only felt nervous after the words left his mouth. It had been so long since he’d had a friend. Was he jumping the gun? He had only known Toge for the better part of a day. Yuuta sheepishly scratched the back of his neck, fixing to back pedal.
“Shake!” Toge’s eyes squinted shut as a smile bloomed across his face. “I will take any chance I can get to skip training,” he signed with a giggle. Yuuta felt his stomach flutter a bit at the sound. Toge really was quite stunning, but that was a problem that never needed to be addressed.
Yuuta led the two of them back to his dorm. Once inside, Toge sat on the edge of the bed while Yuuta rummaged around his room for his laptop. Retrieving it, Yuuta brought it over to the bed and sat next to Toge. He opened it up and pulled up his movie folder looking for anything good to watch. As he was perusing, Toge called out, “Tsuna tsuna!!”
His finger pointed to Nobody Knows. “Oh you like that movie too?” Toge vigorously shook his head yes. “Most people I know don’t like it because of the heavy themes.”
Toge grabbed Yuuta’s attention to sign at him, “It is sooooo good! It’s a beautifully written and directed movie. Can we watch it?” His eyes were pleading saucers of purple. How on earth could Yuuta ever say no to those eyes?
“Of course!” The two settled at the head of Yuuta’s bed, leaning back against the pillows. Yuuta balanced the laptop on their thighs and tried not to overthink the fact that their legs were touching. Pressing play, the two boys nestled into a comfortable silence as the film began.
The narrative of children being abandoned was something Yuuta himself had not experienced. However, the loneliness, fear and anxiety they faced was no stranger to Yuuta. He knew what it was like to feel so isolated from the world, alone and afraid.
Throughout the movie, Yuuta spared a few glances over at Toge. Completely engrossed in the film, Toge hardly took notice of Yuuta’s not so subtle ogling. Looking at Toge up close and personal like this was doing things to Yuuta’s heart. It beat harder with every freckle he counted along Toge’s cheeks. His stomach flipped as his eyes traced over his long lashes and down his face to stare at his plush pink lips.
Without warning, Toge turned to meet Yuuta’s gaze. Frozen on the spot at being caught, Yuuta tried to avert the attention away from himself. “You really seem to be enjoying this movie.”
A slight flush tinted Toge’s cheeks, Yuuta was going to go into cardiac arrest if he kept this up. “I feel like I can kind of relate to the characters. It’s almost comforting in a way to see something tragically beautiful that resonates with me.”
Yuuta clung to his words and proceeded with trepidation. “I think that can be healing for someone in multiple ways… did– uhm. Did you want to talk about anything?” He didn’t want to seem pushy but this was a heavy topic to just pepper into a conversation. “Not that you need to share your story, that’s not what I meant! I mean I know we just met but if it was something you needed to get off your chest I don’t mind-” he was just rambling now. “Sorry! I uh, well it’s just been a while since I’ve had an intimate conversation with someone like this but what I’m trying to say is I’m here if you need me.”
Yuuta felt anguish at his own awkwardness. Someone put him out of his misery already. “Ah, Takana,” Toge waved off his fears. “There isn’t a lot to tell. Cursed speech was appropriately named. It is a curse I’ve bore my whole life and because of it I’ve been pretty isolated from society.”
His words struck a chord in Yuuta, he knew exactly how that felt. He wished he could open up to Toge, let him know he’s not alone, but revealing his identity is too much of a risk. He gave Toge an understanding nod and stayed silent, prompting him to speak more.
“I learned JSL to communicate with people but my own family didn’t even learn it to speak with me. Being at home felt more like a prison than a house. I’m just happy to be out. Jujutsu High has been so freeing for me. I hate this curse I was born with but being here and putting it to good use? It feels like I finally have meaning, a real purpose.” He turned his gaze towards Yuuta, his eyes steeled with determination and a slight smirk on the corner of his mouth.
Toge’s smile caused one of his own to bloom across Yuuta’s face. “I like that, I like that a lot actually. I don’t feel good for much of anything but maybe I can fix that here.” He wanted to believe his own words. Maybe he could find meaning in his life again.
Sharing a knowing smile, the boys turned back to the film. The air around them was heavy with unsaid heartache, but it felt like things might be alright. Just knowing there is someone who can understand big feelings like this made the world seem a little smaller, a little less lonely.
As the credits rolled, Toge stretched his arms above his head and let out a yawn. He pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time. It was already time for supper. “Wanna go get something for dinner?”
Yuuta really couldn’t eat again. The rice from earlier sat in his belly like a rock. “I’m still feeling a little queasy from earlier. Maybe I should just call it a night and try to sleep it off.”
Toge weighed his words, seeming like he wanted to say something but nothing ever came. Instead he tapped on his phone, pulled up his contacts app and handed the device to Yuuta, “Mentaiko.”
He could guess what Toge wanted, typing in his number and returning the phone to Toge’s hands. Testing out the number, Toge shot him a quick text. Satisfied with the ping from Yuuta’s phone, Toge got up from the bed and prepared to head to dinner. “Thanks for the movie and for getting me out of training. I’ll see you in the morning.” He waved at Yuuta and made his way out of the room.
Yuuta closed his laptop and went to get ready for bed. He was still sore from the incident this afternoon. Perhaps sleeping it off wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
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Toge and Yuuta spent more and more time together after that day. He had taken it upon himself to take Yuuta under his wing and show him the ropes of sorcery. His first ever mission was actually with Toge. Gojo sensei explained that Toge was a high enough grade that he could safely execute solo missions.
Because of this fact, he felt it was safe to have Yuuta tag along to shadow Toge. A Grade 3 Curse had popped up in an abandoned shopping center so Gojo sensei sent Toge and Yuuta out to exorcize it.
Getting to see Toge’s cursed speech up close and personal was truly a wonder to behold. It’s no wonder he is so careful with his words. Thinking back on their conversation, Yuuta’s heart ached as he recalled Toge mentioning his own family barely took the time to talk to him.
Yuuta knew the feeling of loneliness so deep that it hollowed out your chest and took up roots in your ribs. He despaired thinking that Toge might not be a stranger to the feeling himself. He would make sure Toge knew he had a friend, that he wasn’t alone in this world that shunned the strange and unusual.
The quiet boys quickly bonded over the next few weeks. If they weren’t training or running missions, they were texting or hanging out. They had nearly watched half of Yuuta’s movie archives on his laptop in their free time. Not that he was complaining. Yuuta savored every night he got to sit leg to leg pressed up against Toge, taking in his expressions and chatter like it was his very life source.
He had no dating experience and little to no experience with crushes. How can you have a crush on anyone when you hide yourself from society as much as possible? Yuuta had done some late night googling though, and the internet believed he was developing feelings for his blonde friend.
Was it normal to count the freckles on your friends cheek, or have your stomach flip every time they texted? Toge had begun to take up residence in most of Yuuta’s thoughts. If he saw a pot of blooming flowers, he thought I bet Toge would love these. If someone was pulling a prank, Toge would pull an even better one. Little thoughts of Toge peppered his days in fondness.
Okay so maybe he did have a crush on Toge but that was besides the point. Toge was his friend first and foremost, plus he still didn’t know Yuuta was a fork. He could daydream all he wanted but the fact was they could never be together. Yuuta opted to admire Toge through the glass, close but never close enough to touch, to hurt. It was enough for him just to have Toge near, to feel like he wasn’t as alone in this world as he truly felt.
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Training with his classmates was difficult for Yuuta but sharing meals with them was proving to be even harder. Most days he opted for soups because it was more palatable to him, like drinking water from a bowl. Every now and then, his friends would comment on his poor nutritional habits. Aren’t you gonna eat some meat? No wonder you are always exhausted.
He knew they meant well, so whenever people would take notice of his meals, Yuuta would force feed himself some meat and veggies to curb their anxieties. It’s not that he couldn’t eat other things, but the texture of meat in his mouth with no flavor was like chewing tar. Yuuta would honestly rather go without eating than to sit there and shovel food in his mouth and pretend to like it.
Unbeknownst to Yuuta, Toge had a watchful eye on his peculiar eating habits. While at lunch that afternoon, Maki and Panda got summoned to exorcize a curse, leaving Toge and Yuuta alone. The two sat in comfortable silence for a bit until Toge broke the silence. “Takana?” He questioned with a tilt of his head.
Setting his spoon down, Yuuta tried to make sense of what Toge was asking. “I’m fine? Is everything okay?” Yuuta attempted to read Toge’s face, did he miss something?
Motioning towards Yuuta’s bowl of soup, Toge continued his questioning. “Okaka,” he punctuated his thought by pointing his chopsticks at Yuuta and then down to his bowl of soup. Oh.
Piecing together what Toge meant, Yuuta began to feel his nerves kick in. “I just really love soup,” great lie. Toge clearly wasn’t buying it, if his scowl was anything to go by. Yuuta began to backpedal, “I promise I’m fine, I just have a thing with textures, ” not entirely false. “Chewing meat and things makes me feel gross, so I stick to soup because it’s safe.”
Toge eyes him for a moment, and then goes back to eating his meal. Yuuta let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Assuming the bullet had been dodged, he went back to slurping down lukewarm soup. After a few bites, Yuuta felt a tinge of uneasiness within him. Looking up, he was startled by Toge’s eyes intensely watching his every movement. He felt his face grow flush and he attempted to not choke on his soup.
Toge set down his chopsticks and began to sign, having Yuuta’s attention. “ What are you hiding? Do you have an eating disorder or something?” The earnest look of concern on Toge’s face caused Yuuta’s stomach to plummet.
Throwing up his hands and wildly waving them, Yuuta sputtered out his reply in an attempt to console Toge. “No, no absolutely not!”
Unsatisfied with his answer, Toge continued to push and prod. “ You know you need to eat to build muscle and get strong. You train so hard but have little to show for it. You are running on fumes.” Toge’s eyes bore into Yuuta’s own, genuine concern etched into his features.
Yuuta cast his eyes down to the bowl in front of him. He knows Toge is right, but it’s not that simple. “I— I know that…” His hand made its way up and began to claw at his neck, nerves talking over. “I can’t explain it, I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better.”
Toge's lips pulled into a frown at that, “Okaka.” He waved his hands to get Yuuta’s attention again. Lifting his head, Yuuta watched as Toge’s hands began to form questions. “What is really going on with you? You can open up to me, I’m just worried about you…” Toge’s cheeks were dusted with pink as his browns knit together with worry.
A long, tired sigh fell from Yuuta’s lips. He had carried this burden alone for so long. What would it be like to share the load? He couldn’t risk it though, the shame and outright rejection, it might kill him. His hands scrubbed his face as he pondered opening up to Toge. None of his lies were working, maybe it would be okay to tell the truth…
Dragging his hands down his face and bringing them to rest on the table, Yuuta locked eyes with Toge. “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”
With a stubborn pout, Toge shook his head no and crossed his arms. Yuuta knew he had lost this battle well before this point. Schooling his nerves, Yuuta took a deep, steadying breath. “What I’m about to tell you, it’s very private. I have not told a single soul, not even my parents.” Toge’s eyes widened in surprise but clung to Yuuta’s every word. “I need to know that I can trust you.”
Yuuta’s eyes were guarded and pleading. He felt the walls around his heart begin to quake. Yuuta had built them so tall and so thick, he was sure no one would ever be able to penetrate them. Then life threw him Toge and everything Yuuta knew was subject to questioning.
Toge’s eyes were sincere as he signed “Of course. I just want to help you.” There was no helping Yuuta, he was merely a shell of the boy he used to be, but the sentiment almost brought tears to his eyes. It had been so long since Yuuta felt like someone actually saw him and cared.
“I, uhm. I don’t even know where to begin,” his fingers began to fidget with the hem of his pullover. “I never imagined telling anyone. Maybe it’s better just to spit it out.” Toge’s face was completely serious as he hung on to Yuuta’s every word like a lifeline.
“It started a few years ago… I used to be normal. I was happy and I ate normally. Then on my 13th birthday, I began to lose my sense of taste.” Yuuta looked up at Toge to gauge his reaction, but his eyes revealed nothing.
“I couldn’t taste anything sweet at first, but then it was sour and savory until eventually I lost my ability to taste anything.” Yuuta felt his eyes begin to prickle with hot tears. Frustration and sorrow had carved a part out of Yuuta’s chest and made a home there. Years of denial and anger welled up within him and poured out of his tired eyes.
“I have not been able to enjoy a meal for the last four years. Nothing has flavor, not even a hint. If I need to eat something, I have to eat soup because it’s closest to water.” The tears were flowing freely down his cheeks as he poured his heart out to poor Toge.
“I know what I am and I swore I would never tell anyone. I don’t think I can handle the rejection,” Yuuta’s sentence was punctuated with a harsh sniffle. “I know— I know that I’m a fork…”
Yuuta dared to look up at Toge again. He anticipated disgust, fear, maybe even anger. What Yuuta did not anticipate was the glossy look of unshed tears in Toge’s eyes, his hand resting below his wobbling lip. It felt like a punch to the gut.
Once he started, he couldn’t stop. The words began to tumble from Yuuta’s mouth. Years worth of loneliness, anger and grief flooding out of him. “I isolated myself from my friends and family. I avoided people at all costs because I know how society views me. Trust me, I hate myself just as much as the next guy.” Yuuta paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and breath before continuing.
“I had just hoped that if I ignored the facts and kept myself away from everyone, then the problem would go away. The thing is though, I am the problem so the only fix is to get rid of me.”
As the words left Yuuta’s mouth, the reality of his situation struck him full force in the chest. A strangled sob left his throat as the weight of his emotions enveloped him. Yuuta was crying so hard he did not even hear Toge get up from his seat, his head buried in his hands as tears freely flowed out of him.
Yuuta felt a pair of long arms wrap around his shoulders and he began to cry even harder. Toge had seated himself beside Yuuta, cradling him in his embrace. Yuuta could not remember the last time he had sat and hugged anyone. More sobs shook his body at the tender warmth around him.
Turning his body into Toge’s, he nuzzled his face into the crook of Toge’s neck. For the first time in years, Yuuta allowed himself to fully let go and feel the emotions he had worked so hard to bury beneath the surface. The soft feel of hands on Yuuta’s back coupled with the smell of Toge’s shampoo and the warmth of his shirt slowly lulled Yuuta into a peaceful state.
Toge held him firmly in his embrace, his fingers lightly stroking up and down Yuuta’s back as his sobs became whimpers, then eventually became silence.
After what felt like an eternity, Yuuta lifted his head to look at Toge. His red rimmed eyes locked with Toge’s own watery gaze. Pushing himself up, Yuuta straightened back up and attempted to compose himself. “I uh-” his voice cracked. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Thank you…”
Yuuta couldn’t bear to keep Toge’s gaze. Shame and guilt flooded his senses all over again as he cast his eyes downward. “I understand if you don’t want to be around me anymore. I really wouldn’t blame you… I just-” His breath hitched as he willed his tears to stop from falling.
“I only ask that you don’t tell anyone.” Yuuta’s hands fisted his pants in anxiety as his thoughts began to spiral once more. “I have done so much to avoid people finding out, I can’t let this get out. It will ruin me…”
A firm hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his thoughts. “Takana, Yuuta.” Your secret is safe with me.
A weight was lifted off of his shoulders, Yuuta felt his heart relax and his stomach flutter. For the first time in years, Yuuta felt safe. A wobbly smile bloomed across his lips as unshed tears threatened to spill out. “Seriously, thank you Toge. You don’t know how it feels to finally have a friend again…”
Toge gave him a soft and knowing smile, but it was short lived. “Now that that’s out of the way, we really need to figure out something with your diet. You need to get into shape.”
Yuuta barked out a surprised laugh at Toge’s bluntness, sniffling as he wiped away his tears on the back of his sleeve. “No kidding, I can’t have Maki beating my ass every time Gojo makes us fight. I can hardly stand to eat anything though…”
Toge pursed his lips, bringing a finger to his cheek and tapping it in thought. His face was schooled in thought until an idea struck and his hands began flying. “I’ve got it! Why don’t you start drinking protein shakes!! You can’t taste them anyways so you can load up on the protein without it tasting gross!”
Honestly, how had Yuuta never thought of that himself? “Oh my gods Toge, you're a genius!”
A smug look graced Toge’s face as he basked in Yuuta’s praise. Yuuta could already see his head beginning to swell with pride. “Okay okay, it wasn’t that good of an idea! No need to boast.”
It was far too late for that. Toge stood up and made his way back to his side of the table. “Shake shake,” he waved off Yuuta’s jesting with a smirk of his own. Grabbing his empty bowl, Toge set about cleaning up the lunch table.
Yuuta should get going too if he didn’t want anyone to see him after crying so much. Finishing the last of his now cold soup, Yuuta stood up and helped clear the table. His steps felt lighter, his mind less foggy. Maybe this really was a turning point for him.
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Over the next few weeks life picked up for Yuuta. Adopting a protein shake regime really boosted his energy levels. His body no longer ached as much in the mornings, he was able to spring out of bed with ease. Yuuta noticed he seemed to be losing less hair as well. His steps were no longer as heavy as they used to be and overall Yuuta just felt better. It had been so long since Yuuta had a semblance of a will to live.
Daily life had gotten more manageable as had his sorcerer training. With his newfound strength and concentration, Yuuta was becoming able to control and actually use his cursed energy. Gojo sensei had done some one-on-one training with him to help Yuuta channel his cursed energy into his katana.
Rolling out of bed, Yuuta started to get himself ready for the day. He had a little extra pep in his step at the excitement of today’s training. Yuuta was going to practice calling out Rika and using her cursed energy to his advantage. Learning how to control and wield his cursed energy gave Yuuta the feeling of being in control of his life. It wasn’t perfect but it was worlds better than when he started at Jujutsu High.
Grabbing his uniform, Yuuta went about getting ready for the day. Walking across his room, he caught a glimpse of himself while passing by the mirror. He had felt better lately but had not realized he was starting to look better, too. Turning to stare at himself in the mirror, Yuuta ran a hand along the side of his chest.
His figure had begun to fill out more. Where his ribs used to poke out, now soft skin covered the bone. His once spindly arms now had definition to them. Still very lean but toned, almost fit. Yuuta was ecstatic.
Leaning closer to the mirror, Yuuta took in the features of his face. His eyes were no longer sunken in, although he still carried dark eyebags, but he could live with that. These past few months had made such a change in his appearance. Yuuta no longer looked sickly.
Taking every bit of himself in, Yuuta basked in his progress. He felt proud. Proud of becoming a better version of himself. Proud of the positive changes in his mood, physicality and his life. Thinking back on this past year, Yuuta would have never imagined himself here right now.
If you had told the scared boy getting mugged at the store that in just a few short months his life would practically 180, he would have never believed it. Funny how life had ways of changing things up.
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As his skill levels increased, so did the responsibilities placed on him. Yuuta was more of an asset in missions than just a bystander. It made him feel good to know that he could help people. Yuuta had spent so many years trying to blend in the shadows, he seemingly forgot the warmth of a stranger's kindness. It was hard to unlearn the idea that the world hates you, but maybe Yuuta just hated himself.
Spending time with Maki, Panda and Toge had really lifted his spirits. Yuuta had begun to smile more. The joy of living was slowly breathing life into Yuuta’s hollow chest. He was finding beauty in the things he had long forgotten, the laughter of friends, the solace of companionship.
Never had Yuuta felt like he belonged somewhere more than here. The four first years were thick as thieves, sharing their daily routines with one another. They had formed a group chat which brought them even closer. Many nights were spent crying with laughter at memes Toge would send or playful banter amongst the friends.
Toge would text Yuuta quite often too. It made his chest puff up a bit when Toge would send pictures and memes to just him instead of the group chat. He was probably reading too far into it but made him feel special.
Yuuta thought he had noticed Toge’s gaze lingering during training sessions but he was quick to squash that thought. He is observant of everybody, not just you. Panda and Maki had seemed to notice something Yuuta hadn’t, rolling their eyes whenever the two boys got caught staring at each other. Feeling a bit like the butt of the joke, Yuuta was too embarrassed to ask them to explain. Maybe he would figure it out one day but for now he was content to laugh with friends and steal glances at Toge whenever possible.
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It was a chilly evening on campus, the first years all huddled up in the common room watching Human Earthworm together. Toge sat nestled between Panda and Yuuta on the couch while Maki sat curled up in a beanbag chair. Pretending to be invested in the movie, Yuuta was actually hyper focused on how Toge’s hand was almost on his thigh. Surely it wasn’t intentional but Yuuta had to fight the overwhelming urge to tangle his fingers in Toge’s own.
His line of (questionable) thought was shattered as the door to the room flew open. Gojo sensei entered the room in a rush, the look on his face alerting everyone that whatever he was here for was serious. Maki paused the movie as everyone turned to Gojo to see what was going on. “We’ve just gotten a call about a Grade 2 Curse roaming just outside the city limits and a Grade 3 Curse trailing not far behind it. I’m sending all of you out to take care of them. Maki and Panda will hit the Grade 3 on the outskirts while Toge and Yuuta will tackle the Grade 2 closer to the city.”
The four students looked at each other and then back to their sensei, nodding in agreement. Ijichi sensei was ready with the car as they made their way outside. The drive went by quickly, Yuuta thinking of ways to exercise his newfound abilities in battle. As they approached their destination, Ijichi sensei let the students know this was Yuuta and Toge’s stop. Letting them out and opening a veil, he then left with Panda and Maki in tow, delivering them to where the other curse lay.
Yuuta felt a shiver run down his spine as the two walked down the long, eerie alleyway teeming with cursed energy. It stretched down and curved hard left at the end. Yuuta couldn’t see any curse but he could definitely feel the energy getting stronger the deeper they trekked.
“Tsuna Tsuna!” Toge called for Yuuta’s attention as they rounded the alley’s corner. Peering around the wall, Yuuta could see what appeared to be a large, gelatinous curse with tentacles flowing from it’s torso in lieu of arms or legs. Two big, beady eyes rest atop it’s grey head, seemingly no thought behind it’s eyes.
In a hushed tone, the boys set their plan of attack. “You distract and evade it while I sneak around and hit it with my katana.” With a determined nod of his head, Toge ran out from behind the wall to distract the curse. A squeal erupted from the creature as it’s eyes locked on Toge’s moving figure. Rapidly running around, dodging the swinging tentacles aimed at him.
Yuuta unsheathed his sword and took a running start towards the back of the curse. Leaping into the air, he brought down the metal with a calculated swing, completely severing the appendage. The curse wallowed in agony and quickly swung its remaining tentacles at Yuuta.
He was quick to jump and dodge the one on his right, but not quick enough to block the left. The slimy tentacle slapping Yuuta across the face, sending him whirling backwards 10 feet. With Yuuta out of harm's way, Toge was next to attack.
“BURST.” The command causing three more tentacles to swell up and explode, spraying the alleyway with dark sludge. His hand reached up and grasped at his raw throat, sputtering and hacking blood onto the pavement.
Yuuta needed to act fast . Springing to his feet, he charged towards the curse, blade held high above his head. Wallowing in pain, the curse did not even see Yuuta approaching until his sword was buried in its torso. A piercing shriek reverberated through the alley, shattering windows and rumbling the pavement. Yuuta was flung back by the sound waves, sending him into the nearby dumpster.
Toge stumbled to his feet, poised to take the curse down. Stepping closer to the wailing beast, the blonde stood his ground and fiercely commanded, “Explode.”
Toge fell to his knees, hacking up blood as his shredded throat poured out onto the asphalt beneath him, painting the street a deep crimson. At his command, the curse ballooned up, skin stretching and warping before finally bursting with an eruption of juices and sludge everywhere. The explosion was amplified by a final wail that shook the entire alleyway.
As the curse remenates settled, Yuuta pulled himself up from the ground on shaky legs. Scanning the area for the blonde, Yuuta spotted him thrown against the brick wall. Snapping into action, his feet flew out leaping towards his companion. “Toge!”
The blonde attempted to stand up but crumpled under his own weight. Reaching him just in time, Yuuta caught him in his arms before sliding to the ground with him. Toge’s fingers clung tightly to him as he continued to hack and cough. Cradling his head, Yuuta gently leaned him back against the wall. The blonde’s incessant choking spraying blood across Yuuta’s face and shirt. He didn’t even flinch, instead attempting to locate any throat medicine for the poor boy.
A scratchy “Yuu-dahh,” clawed its way out of Toge’s marred throat as his eyes rolled back into his skull. Panicking, Yuuta began shaking the blonde in an attempt to rouse him. “Don’t do this, not right now.” Toge was still breathing but slipping in and out of consciousness at the sheer amount of blood he’d lost.
Running a frazzled hand through his hair, Yuuta bartered with the unconscious blonde. “Come on Toge, stay with me!”
He needed to get him to Ijichi sensei. The veil was slowly melting away around them so maybe he was already on his way inside. Yuuta could try and carry Toge out but he questioned his strength even with how lean the boy was. His hands shook with trepidation as he chewed on his lip in nervousness.
Pulling the skin between his lips, all at once Yuuta’s mouth erupted with sensations, vibrant flavors bloomed and spread across his tongue. Yuuta stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide. Was this part of the curse? Frantically looking around, Yuuta found no remains of the apartion. The air around him had a sickly sweet aroma to it. How could this be? Yuuta hadn’t been able to taste anything for ye–
His world came grinding to a halt. Icy panic spread through Yuuta’s veins as the horrific realization dawned on him. This was his curse. Toge’s blood was on his lip, he had licked Toge’s blood by accident. His hands began to tremble as his mind swarmed with only one thought: Toge was a cake.
By some miracle, Yuuta was able to snap out of his spiral long enough to remember Toge’s unconscious body beside him. Swallowing the panic in his lungs, Yuuta wrenched his arms underneath Toge to carry him. He had gotten stronger over the months but his legs buckled as he struggled to carry Toge towards Ijichi sensei. With the veil around them fallen, he hollered out for help. Ijichi sensei rushed in and helped Yuuta get Toge to the car. Once the two boys were inside, he made a phone call to arrange a ride for Maki and Panda as he sped back to the school.
Returning to the school grounds, Toge was rushed to the infirmary. While everyone was distracted with Toge’s state, Yuuta snuck away and rushed back to his dorm. His mind spiraled as the weight of tonight's events came into full focus for him.
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Reaching the reprieve of his room, Yuuta slammed his door shut and backed himself against it. His breath stuttered as he reached for the lock. Seeing the blood on his hands caused Yuuta’s pulse to spike. He wanted to have another taste.
He shouldn’t, Yuuta knows this. It’s demented, he knows this too. It’s completely fucked, but he fears he has been since birth. Removing his fingers from the bedroom lock, Yuuta slowly brings them to his face. His eyes screw shut as he sniffs. Just the smell of Toge’s blood is enough to turn his own to fire.
The scent is by far the best thing Yuuta has ever inhaled. The heady aroma fills his nostrils and makes his blood sing . Food hasn’t had a smell to it in years. Yuuta could never enter a room and tell if someone was cooking anything. Toge’s blood made him feel like coming home and smelling mom cooking.
His heart lurched in his throat. He wanted another taste, needed another. With trepidation, Yuuta’s fingers slowly dragged along his lips, just barely parted. He was not even aware he was holding his own breath. With a shaky exhale, the tip of his tongue darted out to touch the dried blood along his fingertip. He expected a metallic tang that normally accompanied the fluid, instead a sweet flavor bloomed across his tongue.
A world that had been dull and muted now felt vibrant and wondrous. It was as if the room was swimming in color. Yuuta closed his eyes and parted his lips, suckling on the tip of his finger. The essence swirled along his tongue and around his mouth. Yuuta had been hungry for years now, he was no stranger to it. This was something entirely different.
Starved. He felt like a starved man being given his first meal in ages. The thought stopped him in his tracks. Ripping the finger from his mouth, a cold realization washed over him. This was blood, Toge’s blood. He was lapping up his best friend's blood like it was a meal. Yuuta’s stomach clenched in retaliation. His mind was at war with itself, conscious demanding he lock this part of himself away forever; subconscious begging, pleading, yearning for another lick, just another taste.
A slave to his own body, Yuuta’s tongue rolled out of his mouth and he began to lick and suck at his sullied hand. Sinking to his knees against the door, Yuuta let himself be the monster he knew he had been all along. Tears rolled down in fat globs down his cheeks as he savored and relished in Toge’s blood. Everything in his mind was screaming at him to stop, but the more he inhaled, the quieter the world became.
There was a peace within his mind for the first time in years. Yuuta had long forgotten the joy of eating. The pleasant sensation coursing through him like waves of nostalgia. He felt content, oddly happy.
Yuuta’s actions slowed to a stop as he inspected his hand. Not a trace of Toge remained. A hurricane of emotions roared within him. Frantically searching his clothes for any signs of blood. Patting down his chest, Yuuta spotted a small smear on the sleeve of his shirt. Without a second thought, he brought the fabric up to his mouth and began to suck.
Saliva mixed with the drying blood, filling his mouth and prolonging the high Yuuta was craving. His eyes fluttered shut as the sweet sensations of Toge’s blood overwhelmed him. Colors danced in his vision and his heart felt light.
The sweetness didn’t last though. Vibrant colors began to mute as the sugar rush wore off. Yuuta’s floating spirits were slowly dragged down, down, down to the depths of hell. Coming into himself once more, Yuuta was able to fully grasp the situation with a clear mind.
Hot tears sprang up and began to pour from his eyes like a faucet. He was ashamed, disgusted, mortified. If anyone had seen him like this, it would have been a death sentence for Yuuta. Molten hot shame burned its way through his chest as sobs wracked his breathing.
This was the real Okkotsu Yuuta, the one he had long since denied and desperately tried to hide. Unable to outrun fate, Yuuta could no longer deny the beast that stared back at him in the mirror. He and the beast had become one tonight and it would be his ultimate undoing.