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Yuji knows and believes that everyone will reincarnate one day. That being said, he believes that Sukuna will reincarnate into a new body— but still the same soul. But when that time comes, he will be the one who prevents Sukuna from going for the same path again.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
(It’s ironic that he doesn’t believe a second chance for himself)
That’s why he’s more than happy to see the ending waiting for his friends; Okkotsu-senpai and Maki-senpai having a family together, Kugisaki living her life more freely, and Fushiguro finally realizing that he is worth more than what he thought.
But, despite all of that…
Gojo-sensei could’ve got his own happy ending too.
Yuji knows that his sensei has carried the burden of being the strongest ever since he was born— and that’s why sensei is determined to protect the next generation’s youth.
Because his youth has been taken away.
Yuji knows that he should be happy when receiving Iori’s wedding from Maki-senpai. It’s his friends’ son’s wedding after all— which is strange, because no sorcerer has ever thought they could make it to this point before. But he couldn't help but stare sadly.
It could’ve been Gojo-sensei who shared the happy news of his wedding to him. Gojo-sensei could’ve built a family with a girl that he loves, and Yuji is more than happy to be the cool uncle for their children.
Gojo-sensei could’ve been here too for Yuji.
It’s strange that he mourns Gojo-sensei longer than he knows him.
It’s when he reaches the age of 40, Yuji becomes more than aware that he’s not aging at all.
Kugisaki always comments on how she envies Yuji’s anti-aging as if it’s his own will in the first place. Kugisaki slapped him when he said that though, because any girl would fight for his place.
Well, excluding the horror experience on how he achieved it though.
Meanwhile, Fushiguro— for once in a lifetime—jokes about “We look like your parents, more than your friends.”
Kugisaki laughs.
But Yuji can’t help but feel an uneasy feeling growing on his chest.
It’s when he reaches the age of 42, Yuji distances himself from the sorcerer world.
Yuji doesn’t need anyone to tell him that Iori’s unborn daughter will inherit the Ten Shadows technique. Following Fushiguro’s death, it's expected that someone from the Zen'in bloodline will inherit it.
Yuji doesn’t expect that it will be this soon.
What a coincidence.
For Fushiguro to be reduced to nothing but Sukuna’s vessel instead of Yuji, Gojo-sensei would’ve laughed at his grave.
Except that Gojo-sensei doesn’t have a grave to begin with.
It’s becoming a habit for Yuji to move from one shrine to another— since having a house means that the risk of getting caught is higher. He meditates. Exorcising curses. Placing what was supposed to be Gojo-sensei’s burden as the strongest into his shoulder instead.
Because he’s the strongest now.
Will Gojo-sensei be proud of him?
But he can feel the light smack on the back of his head from Gojo-sensei when he found out that Yuji, out of all people, distanced himself from society.
He can feel Gojo-sensei’s disappointment, and it pains Yuji’s heart so much to get the disappointment from his sensei. He wants to make Gojo-sensei happy and proud. He wants him to look up at him and say, “Yuji-kun is all grown up.”
Gojo-sensei—
Then suddenly, there’s an outburst of cursed energy.
Yuji has never been this fast for his fighting position. The cursed energy that he’s been improving has been enough to defeat Sukuna in just three punches, but whatever it is that he feels just now would only need four or five to—
But it feels strangely familiar.
Yuji’s left hand twitches.
He feels like he has felt this cursed energy somewhere. Must be an old friend. But almost half of them are dead by now, and if they’re still alive, they would never be this strong. No offense.
Old friend.
Yuji feels like he misses this feeling so much. It’s powerful, but it’s like a big arm wrapping him on a warm hug like someone did before—
Oh.
It’s Gojo-sensei’s.
How can he forget about his strongest sensei’s cursed energy?
Unconsciously, Yuji smiled.
He doesn’t know how much time has passed since he started to live in a shrine instead of a normal house. But he knows that it’s been so long, that the dead one has reincarnated into this world once again.
His steps became faster the more he regained some sense. He follows the trail of Gojo-sensei’s cursed energy. A powerful one that marks the birth of Six-Eye and Limitless user— another the strongest has been born.
In just a few steps, he can see the baby version of Gojo-sensei.
Fragile. Crying. Something human of Gojo-sensei that Yuji has never seen before.
His breath hitched, but he didn't dare to approach the baby or the mother that had just given birth. He’s just an outsider— that’s what he is in the past few years, right? He doesn’t have the authority to barge in and exclaim that he wants to raise the reincarnation of his sensei.
He doesn’t want to separate Gojo-sensei from his parents again.
With a heavy heart, Yuji steps out. Slowly walking to the shrine he came from.
The world loudly declared that Gojo Satoru had been born.
“Yuji. Yuji. Yuji!” a familiar excitement with a childish voice. Something that Yuji somehow has been used to now. His depressed and isolated era is probably screaming at him now.
“Yes, Gojo?”
The name lets out easily from his mouth. It’s strange for him to call Gojo Satoru without adding a sensei on the back of it.
Gojo— now with a six-eye that seems to blink with adoration for whatever Yuji did, and the youth on him that Yuji has never seen before. He seems more free, and Yuji is grateful for it.
Gojo pouts. And with that puppy eyes and desperation look on his face… Yuji can’t help but fall for his manipulation tactic or whatever Gojo would call it. “Don’t call me that! I told you to call me Satoru! Your Satoru!”
A servant from behind lowered herself to speak. Must’ve been a protocol that Gojo Estate has taught their servants. “Gojo-sama, it’s inappropriate for you to whine and demand something too much for Yuji-sama…”
“Blabla. Don’t care. Didn’t hear that. It doesn’t matter to me!” Gojo covered both of his ears with his hands. Bratty…
The servant seems to sweat. It’s surely not taught in their protocol on how to handle a bratty young master that should be treated with the highest treatment (Six-Eye user, duh), and how to politely tell him what’s to do or not.
She looks pleadingly at Yuji. Looking for help, he notices.
Yuji clears his throat. “Gojo—“
“Satoru!”
“—you should hear what she said, okay? Your parents will be super upset if you do that.”
“I just want you to call me Satoru. Yuji, wouldn’t you do that? Are you going to make me sad? Wrong decisioooon if you ask me.” Gojo rolls his eyes.
“Okay, Satoru—“ “Yay!” “—You shouldn’t say things like that, okay? No matter how much you hate it, you shouldn’t be that mean. She has a feeling too.”
Gojo scoffed.
“I would be super upset if you do it again.”
At that word, Gojo seemed to react. “Yuji, no!”
“I will be super sad. Probably won’t be here again for a long time… And not even your cute pout would help.”
“That bad?! But Yuuuuuuji… Don’t you think you baby talk me enough? I’m actually older than you.”
“If you think you’re older than me, then you should be more mature. That’s what you always did back then, right?”
Gojo shrugged. “Well, if you asked Shoko or basically anyone, they won’t tell you that I’m mature though.”
Right…
When has Gojo ever mature about anything? Never, if Yuji can remember correctly. But having anti-aging also means that your memory is perfectly fine. One of the perks. So no, Gojo never mature about anything.
“Seriously, what can I do for you to behave?” aaand that would be the worst thing Yuji has ever said, but it’s too late to back down now, because Gojo’s eyes— those gorgeous blue eyes are sparkling with hope. Damn it.
“Wait, wait, wait, really?”
“Nothing weird, alright?”
Gojo nods his head violently. And Yuji can’t help but find it hard to believe that this Gojo has his memories of his past life, and not some random kid who has Six-Eye and Limitless.
“Okay, so can you like cuddle me tonig—“
“Absolutely not.”
“WHAT? Okay, fine. How about tucking me and read me bedti—“
“I hope you know it’s awkward for me to do that, especially when I know that you’re older than me. Worse, you were my sensei!”
“Ugh,” Gojo squinted his eyes. Then crossing his arm as if he’s an adult and in the middle of a serious thinking now. “Then, will Yuji pick me up? Pretty please? It feels sooo weird to be this short.”
He has the audacity to ask with that annoyingly cute pout and batting his eyelashes. Gosh.
But well, it’s not really a weird request. But a nobody picking up the treasured young master of Gojo Clan, and walking around the estate like nothing happened would cause chaos in the sorcerer world.
Sure Yuji is not really a nobody, since he’s somehow got the title of the strongest.
But Yuji knows boundary, alright?
Yuji glances at the servant who’s quiet during the whole conversation. She’s fidgeting with her hands and honestly, Yuji can’t blame her. But she noticed Yuji’s gaze and nodded.
Yuji exhaled heavily. And Gojo saw that as victory.
Gojo is already more than ready to get picked up. His hands are stretched, as if he’s welcoming a hug. Yuji can feel his excitement just by the look of his face. He looks like a kid getting candies.
Yuji leans down— squatting to reach the same level of Gojo. Then picking up the kid effortlessly, which has Gojo wrapping his arms around Yuji’s neck like a necklace.
Gojo nuzzles on Yuji’s neck. Then a giggle.
Gojo is giggling!
“You don’t know how much I’ve always wanted to do this! Yuji, let’s do this more often!” A rare big smile stretched on Gojo’s face. Yuji finds it very hard to refuse, when Gojo lets out that look.
“Luckily you wanted this when you’re a child, Satoru. If you’re the Gojo-sensei I know, I would probably get crushed by your weight first.”
Gojo lets out a fake gasp. “What makes you think I only think of it recently?”
“What?”
“Yuji underestimate me so much… I’ve always wanted to ask you this when we finished the fight with Sukuna!”
And the atmosphere suddenly becomes gloomy, because Gojo has never been able to ask Yuji that. Because he died. On a fight with Sukuna that has his body sliced to half, and for Okkotsu-senpai to—
Yuji slaps his own face.
“Yuji? Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” Yuji smiled. It was in the past, and Gojo is back again. Nothing will go wrong. Everything will be okay. “Let’s get you back to your room, yeah? We don’t want you to get into trouble for waking past your bedtime.”
Gojo rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
Just when Yuji takes a step— or maybe two, or three. Gojo suddenly voices out a cold and intimidating command, “You. Don’t follow us.”
Yuji can’t see the look on Gojo’s face, because the boy is looking behind Yuji. But he doesn’t need to do that, because Yuji knows that it’s the servant who’s behind him.
But it’s the first time Yuji hears Gojo’s voice like that since becoming a child. He only hears Gojo-sensei’s voice become cold or harsh whenever he’s on a mission exorcising a curse. Or when he talks to the higher-up.
Why would he do that now?
“‘Toru?” Yuji whispers. And thank God that Yuji did that, because Gojo immediately looked at him with a wide eye.
Yuji can tell that Gojo likes it.
“Yes, Yuji?”
“Tell her nicely, okay?”
Gojo furrowed his eyebrow for a second, before turning his head to the servant again. Poor her.
“I wanna go with Yuji. Alone. Don’t follow us.”
It’s not exactly a warm or nice command, but it’s better than before, Yuji guessed.
Yuji patted Gojo’s hair as a praise. And Gojo leans on his touch. Huh, has his sensei always been this huge fan of touch?
The servant no longer follows them. Now it’s only Yuji walking toward Gojo’s room, and the boy calmly resting his head on Yuji’s shoulder.
The darkness that follows the sunset makes it hard for Yuji to see what face Gojo is making. But he can feel the smile— a big one—on the boy’s face.
Then a quiet whisper of Gojo breaks the silence. “Call me that more, Yuji.”
Yuji smiled. “Okay, ‘Toru.”
It’s the first time Yuji called him that. But it sounds right and feels like that’s what Yuji should’ve done.
How do you greet your friend after almost 10 years of no contact? That’s how Yuji thought.
Truthfully, Yuji has always wanted to meet with Kugisaki for the first time after Fushiguro’s death. He wants to show her that their dearest sensei is back. And maybe, there’s a story that Kugisaki has wanted to tell to their sensei.
But, how?
After distancing himself and breaking contact with almost everyone from the sorcerer world, Yuji surely has been seen as a jerk or coward.
Some of them are already questioning where his moral lies– humanity, or curses?
And maybe, that thought has eaten him completely that makes Gojo realize that he’s been zoned out for the past 30 minutes. When has Gojo never realized anything about him anyway?
“–Ji. Yuuuji! Are you ignoring me now? Don’t tell me that you want to abandon me!” Gojo shakes Yuji’s shoulder.
“No… I’m just thinking about something, ‘Toru. Nothing important.”
Gojo scrunched his nose. “Yuji.. Whenever you say that you’re thinking about something, then it means that it’s important. I would be a fool for not realizing it.”
Oof.
“It’s nothing big, really. It’s just that–“
Should he tell him or not?
“What? Cmon, don’t hang it! Tell the greatest Satoru about it!”
“It’s just… I’ve been planning to visit Kugisaki again. But after the past few years, I think it would be a jerk for me to do it.”
“Hmm..” Gojo tapped his chin. “Soo, when will we visit her?”
“No, I don’t know— wait, what do you mean we?”
Gojo smirked. That same smirk that he always gives to people, but somehow not to Yuji. “Are you seriously thinking that you’re going alone? After this whole time? Where you go, I go type shit, duh.”
“No, no, no! They’re gonna be looking for you, ‘Toru!”
“So what? I have the strongest in the world with me. Nothing can harm me. Plus point? I will be your emotional support too.”
Yuji forgot how demanding Gojo can be.
“Nobara-chan!” Gojo’s voice sings Kugisaki’s name repeatedly. And honestly, Yuji has begun to develop ear issues with how much he’s getting tired of it.
“Still as annoying as usual, sensei.”
There it is. The voice of a woman that has always been there for Yuji since high school and the whole chaos that leads to almost world destruction.
Yuji flinched. He’s rethinking about his decision and wanting to go home (he doesn’t even have one). He can imagine the disappointment, the insults, and the betrayal look on Kugisaki’s face. She is truly scary, even after all this year.
“Yuji, no come back!” Gojo tucked the edge of Yuji’s hoodie. Mouth pouting like he’s the one getting betrayed by Yuji.
“‘Toru, I seriously going to get kille—“
“—Seems like you bring that stupid potato with you too.”
There’s no turning back, Yuji realizes.
“K- Kugisaki…” Yuji attempts an awkward wave and smiles. It feels weird to see the wrinkles and signs of aging on Kugisaki’s face, to the point that he wished Fushiguro could have one too if it means that he will live a little bit longer.
Kugisaki walks. Yuji noticed that she walks slower than she usually does.
Then—
A straight punch in the face.
Gojo whistles. “Nobara, that’s not how you should greet an old friend.”
“Sensei, how can I not when this stupid, dumb potato always does something without telling me anything!” Kugisaki yelled. Yeah, that’s the Kugisaki that Yuji knows.
“He did it with a reason too, Nobara. I hope you know that. So don’t hate him so much.”
Kugisaki takes a deep breath. After what seems like 3 seconds, she lets it out. It seems like she has taken an anger issues management class when Yuji is away…
“You know what?” Kugisaki smiled. “Welcome back, Itadori.”
“It feels so weird to wake up in a baby body, Nobara-chan! All I could do back then was cry loudly. And even if I could feel Yuji’s cursed energy close to me when I was born, I couldn’t do anything!”
“Wait, wait! Hold up! With you being a child, it means that I can’t ask for your money anymore. Because it would be irresponsible of me to ask for money from a younger child!”
Yuji's jaw dropped. Seriously, that’s what Kugisaki think about after this year?
“You’re basically my grandma now, Nobara! So hand me your money instead!”
“Hell no. Even if you’re still a child, your money is probably way much more than mine. Generational wealth, ugh.”
Gojo faked a gasp. Seriously, this boy has a talent for acting. “I’m saving up my money, you know!”
“What could you possibly saving it for? You’re probably already a millionaire without doing it.”
“I’m planning on marrying Yuji!”
Yuji choked on his drink. Violently.
“Wh– what?!” Yuji asked once his cough stopped.
“I’m saying that I will marry you!” Gojo declared with a smile. As if what he just said isn't a jaw dropping sentence and the most ridiculous thing Yuji has ever heard in his entire life.
“Oh, but if you want it to be sooner, then we can get married right here and right now!” Gojo wriggled his eyebrows.
“Oh my God,” Kugisaki gasped.
“‘Toru, I’m way older than you.”
“Bleugh.” Gojo stuck out his tongue. “Who cares?”
“Your parents—“ “—they’re already wrapped around your fingers.”
“The higher up—“ “—nah, they’re not suicidal enough to challenge the two of the strongest.”
Yuji lets out a stressed noise. “You will never have an heir!”
“I’m Gojo Satoru,” Gojo leans on his chair. “I can make the impossible happen.”
Kugisaki can’t hold her laughter anymore. “I can’t believe it. I’m being a witness for a sudden marriage before I die.”
“No, shut up. You’re not helping.” Yuji messed up his hair in frustration. “Satoru, it will be inappropriate for me to marry a child.”
“Since when does the sorcerer world care about appropriate or not? I’m talking about Mei Mei and her brother— do they care about it? And if you forget, Yuji, I’m already or was an adult. Way much more older than you.”
“Sensei—“
“Nu uh. I won’t hear anything, except for yes.” Gojo covered his ears with his hands. “I should’ve done this when I was your sensei. Should’ve said ‘fuck moral’ and become more honest with myself.”
Kugisaki is becoming more smug. “And I don’t mind being the witness of your marriage right here and right now.”
“Exactly! You’re my best friend now, Nobara-chan!”
Then they both high fived.
“Yuji. Do you love me or not?”
“I mean, yes. I do love you, but—“
“Then what else matters? We both love each other. And since when does normalcy apply to us, sorcerers?”
Satoru has a point.
Gojo takes Yuji’s hand, and guides them to his own cheek. Nuzzling into it like a little kitten—it makes Yuji’s heart flutter. “Yuji, I love you. I will always be Yuji’s. I don’t want to let you go again.”
Yuji gulped. “Are you sure, ‘Toru? I’m literally an old guy now. I’m not the same young student that you used to teach.”
“I love Yuji just the way he is! Don’t ever doubt my love for Yuji!”
Yuji opened his mouth, just to close it again. Gojo— his sensei or not, is the same and he will never be able to say no to.
And perhaps, this time, Yuji won’t back down and leave with regrets.
“Yes, ‘Toru. I would love to marry you.”