chapter 1-8

Chapter 1: Sunshine and Sparks
The first thing you noticed about Yuji Itadori wasn't his unusual strength or his cheerful demeanor—it was the way he made everyone around him smile without even trying. As the new medical assistant at Tokyo Jujutsu High, you'd expected the students to be intense, brooding types. Yuji shattered that expectation within minutes of meeting him.

"Oh, you're the new guy!" he said, bounding into the infirmary with a scraped knee and the biggest grin you'd ever seen. "I'm Yuji! Sorry about the blood—I may have gotten a little too enthusiastic during training."

"That's what I'm here for," you said, gesturing to the examination table. "Let's take a look at that."

As you cleaned his wound, you couldn't help but notice how he chattered away, completely unfazed by the pain. He asked about your background, your interests, your favorite foods—all while you worked, his genuine curiosity making you feel oddly special.

"You're really good at this," he said, watching you bandage his knee with careful precision. "Your hands are so steady."

Something in his tone made you look up, and you found his brown eyes focused intently on your face. The compliment, combined with his warm gaze, sent an unexpected flutter through your chest.

"Thanks," you managed, suddenly very aware of how close you were sitting. "Just try to be more careful, okay?"

"I'll try," he said with a sheepish smile, "but no promises. I kinda like having an excuse to come see you."

The bold admission made your cheeks warm. Most patients were in and out as quickly as possible, but Yuji seemed genuinely reluctant to leave.

"Well," you said, trying to keep your voice professional despite your racing pulse, "my door's always open."

"Good to know," he said, hopping down from the table. At the doorway, he turned back with that killer smile. "See you around, doc."

After he left, you found yourself staring at the empty doorway, wondering what exactly had just happened.

Chapter 2: Frequent Visitor
Over the next few weeks, Yuji became your most frequent patient. Bruised knuckles, minor cuts, the occasional sprain—nothing serious, but enough to require regular visits to your infirmary. You began to suspect he was being less careful on purpose.

"Another training accident?" you asked one afternoon as he settled onto the examination table with a split lip.

"You could say that," he said, his grin slightly lopsided due to the injury. "Nobara said I wasn't focused enough, so she helped me focus with her hammer."

You shook your head, reaching for antiseptic. "You need to be more careful. These injuries could get serious."

"Are you worried about me?" The teasing note in his voice made you look at him sharply.

"It's my job to worry about students," you said, but the words came out softer than you intended.

"Just the students?" he asked quietly.

The question hung between you as you dabbed at his lip, trying to ignore how close you were, how you could feel his breath on your wrist. When you glanced up, his eyes were serious for once, searching your face.

"Yuji..." you started, but he lifted his hand to cover yours.

"I like when you say my name," he murmured. "It sounds different when you say it."

Your breath caught. This was dangerous territory—he was a student, you were staff. But the way he was looking at you made it hard to remember why that mattered.

"I should finish this," you said weakly, but you didn't pull your hand away.

"Yeah," he agreed, but neither of you moved. "You should."

The moment stretched until footsteps in the hallway made you both jump apart. You finished treating his lip in charged silence, both of you hyperaware of every accidental touch.

"Thanks, doc," he said as he prepared to leave, but his usual cheerfulness seemed forced.

"Yuji," you called out as he reached the door. He turned hopefully. "Maybe try dodging next time?"

His real smile returned. "Where's the fun in that?"

Chapter 3: After Hours
You were working late, updating medical records, when a soft knock interrupted your concentration. Yuji peered around the door, looking uncharacteristically hesitant.

"Hey," he said. "I saw the light on. You're here pretty late."

"Could say the same about you," you replied, saving your work. "Shouldn't you be in the dorms?"

"Couldn't sleep." He stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind him. "Mind if I hang out for a bit?"

You gestured to the chair beside your desk. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just..." He ran a hand through his pink hair, a gesture you'd learned meant he was thinking hard about something. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you think I'm too..." he paused, searching for words, "much? Like, too loud, too energetic, too in-your-face?"

The vulnerability in his question caught you off guard. "Why would you think that?"

"Gojo-sensei mentioned that some people find my enthusiasm overwhelming. Got me thinking about whether I make people uncomfortable."

You turned your chair to face him fully. "Yuji, your enthusiasm is one of your best qualities. You make people smile just by being yourself."

"Even you?" he asked, and there was something almost shy in the way he said it.

"Especially me," you admitted before you could stop yourself.

The confession seemed to unlock something in both of you. The air between you shifted, becoming charged with possibility.

"I've been thinking about you," he said quietly. "A lot. More than I probably should."

Your heart hammered against your ribs. "Yuji..."

"I know it's complicated," he continued, leaning forward in his chair. "I know there are rules, expectations. But I can't stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss you."

The honest admission sent heat racing through your veins. "That would be very complicated."

"Would it though?" He stood, moving closer to your chair. "We're both adults. We both feel something here, right? I'm not imagining this?"

You looked up at him, at the hopeful expression on his face, and felt your resolve cracking. "You're not imagining it."

"Then why does it have to be complicated?"

Before you could think of all the reasons why, he was cupping your face in his hands, thumbs brushing over your cheekbones.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered, "and I will."

Instead, you stood, closing the distance between you. "Don't stop."

He kissed you then, soft and sweet at first, then deeper when you responded eagerly. His hands tangled in your hair, and you gripped the front of his uniform, pulling him closer.

When you finally broke apart, both breathing hard, he rested his forehead against yours.

"Wow," he breathed.

"Yeah," you agreed. "Wow."

Chapter 4: Secret Smiles
Everything changed after that kiss. Yuji's visits to the infirmary became even more frequent, but now they were filled with stolen moments—quick kisses when no one was looking, hands brushing as he passed you supplies, whispered conversations that had nothing to do with his injuries.

"You're glowing," Nobara observed one day after Yuji had left the infirmary with a bandaged thumb and a secret smile. "It's disgusting."

"I don't know what you mean," you said, but you could feel the heat in your cheeks.

"Uh-huh." She studied you with sharp eyes. "Just be careful, okay? Whatever's happening between you two."

Her words followed you for the rest of the day. You were being careful, weren't you? Keeping things professional during official hours, making sure no one saw the lingering touches or caught the looks you shared across crowded rooms.

That evening, Yuji appeared at your apartment door with takeout and his most charming smile.

"Figured you might be hungry," he said, holding up the bags. "I may have also missed you."

"It's been four hours since I saw you last," you said, but you stepped aside to let him in.

"Four hours too long," he replied, setting the food on your coffee table before pulling you into his arms.

He kissed you like he'd been thinking about it all day, which, knowing Yuji, he probably had. His enthusiasm extended to everything he did, including the way he kissed—wholehearted and intense and completely focused on you.

"I brought your favorite," he said against your lips, "but suddenly I'm not very hungry for food."

The suggestion in his voice made your pulse spike. "Yuji..."

"What?" His hands were already working at the buttons of your shirt, his touch reverent but eager. "I want you. I've wanted you since that first day in the infirmary."

"Really?" you asked, helping him with his uniform jacket.

"Really. You were so gentle, so careful with me. And you listened—actually listened—when I rambled about nothing. No one really does that."

His honesty made your chest tight with emotion. You cupped his face, looking into those warm brown eyes. "I love listening to you talk. I love your energy, your optimism, the way you make everything brighter."

"Yeah?" His smile was soft, vulnerable.

"Yeah." You kissed him again, pouring all your feelings into it. "I love you, Yuji."

He went very still. "You love me?"

"I love you," you repeated, suddenly nervous. "Is that okay?"

His answer was to kiss you so thoroughly it left you dizzy, his hands roaming your body with newfound urgency.

"More than okay," he murmured against your neck. "Because I love you too. So much it's kind of scary."

Chapter 5: Complications
Loving Yuji was easy. Hiding it was becoming impossible.

He was naturally affectionate, always finding excuses to touch—a hand on your shoulder when he passed behind you, fingers brushing when you handed him supplies, standing just a little too close when you talked. To anyone paying attention, his feelings were written all over his face.

The problem was that people were starting to pay attention.

"Itadori seems to be having a lot of training accidents lately," Principal Yaga observed during a staff meeting. "Everything alright with him medically?"

"He's fine," you said quickly. "Just enthusiastic during practice. Nothing serious."

But you caught the way Gojo's eyes narrowed thoughtfully behind his blindfold, and your stomach clenched with worry.

After the meeting, you pulled Yuji aside.

"We need to be more careful," you said, glancing around to make sure you weren't overheard. "People are starting to notice."

"Notice what?" he asked, but his defensive tone suggested he knew exactly what.

"The way you look at me. The constant visits to the infirmary. The fact that you light up like a Christmas tree every time I walk into a room."

He was quiet for a moment, then: "Are you saying you want to cool things off?"

The hurt in his voice made your chest ache. "No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying we need to be smarter about this."

"So what, we pretend we don't care about each other? Act like strangers?"

"Of course not. Just... dial it back a little. During work hours."

He nodded reluctantly. "Okay. I can do that."

But you could see the effort it took him over the next few days. Yuji wasn't built for subtlety—his emotions were always right there on the surface, honest and immediate. Watching him struggle to hide his feelings for you was like watching someone try to dim the sun.

It came to a head during a particularly difficult mission briefing. You'd been assigned to provide medical support for a dangerous curse extraction, and the risks were significant.

"I don't like this," Yuji said after the meeting, following you back to the infirmary. "You shouldn't be going into the field."

"It's part of my job," you replied, checking your medical supplies. "I'll be fine."

"You don't know that." His voice was tight with worry. "What if something happens to you?"

"Yuji—"

"I can't lose you," he said, the words bursting out of him. "I know we're trying to keep things quiet, but I can't pretend I don't love you. Especially not when you might be in danger."

The raw emotion in his voice stopped you cold. You looked at him—really looked—and saw the fear he was trying so hard to hide.

"Hey," you said softly, crossing to him. "I'm going to be fine. You'll be there, right? You won't let anything happen to me."

"Promise me you'll be careful," he said, his hands finding yours. "Promise me you'll stay behind the established perimeter."

"I promise."

He kissed you then, right there in the infirmary with the door wide open, like he couldn't help himself. And maybe he couldn't—maybe some things were too big to hide.

Chapter 6: Close Call
The mission went sideways almost immediately.

What was supposed to be a routine extraction turned into a full-scale battle when they encountered not one curse, but three. You found yourself much closer to the action than planned, treating injured sorcerers while chaos erupted around you.

You were working on a particularly nasty gash on Nobara's arm when you felt the air change—that electric tension that meant a powerful curse was nearby. You looked up to see a grotesque creature bearing down on your position, claws extended and mouth full of teeth.

Time slowed. You pushed Nobara out of the way, throwing yourself in the opposite direction, but you knew you weren't fast enough. The curse's claws were going to find their mark.

Then Yuji was there, moving faster than should have been humanly possible. He caught the curse's attack with his bare hands, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground.

"Don't you dare touch him," he snarled, and there was something in his voice that wasn't entirely human.

What followed was brutal and efficient. Yuji tore the curse apart with his bare hands, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by something fierce and protective. When it was over, he turned to you with wild eyes.

"Are you hurt?" he demanded, his hands roaming over your body, checking for injuries.

"I'm fine," you said, catching his hands to still them. "Yuji, I'm okay."

The relief that crossed his face was devastating. He pulled you against his chest, holding you so tightly you could barely breathe.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he whispered into your hair. "When I saw that thing coming for you..."

"But you didn't lose me," you said, pulling back to look at him. "I'm right here."

"I love you," he said suddenly, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I don't care who knows it anymore. I love you, and I almost lost you, and I'm done pretending otherwise."

Around you, the other sorcerers were staring, but Yuji didn't seem to care. His focus was entirely on you.

"I love you too," you said softly. "But maybe we should have this conversation somewhere more private?"

He looked around as if noticing your audience for the first time, his cheeks flushing pink. "Right. Sorry everyone."

Nobara snorted. "About time, honestly. You two have been painfully obvious for weeks."

Chapter 7: Out in the Open
The aftermath of the mission forced several difficult conversations. Principal Yaga called you both into his office the next morning, his expression serious.

"I assume you understand why you're here," he said without preamble.

"Yes, sir," you replied, acutely aware of Yuji's nervous energy beside you.

"Relationships between staff and students are strongly discouraged," Yaga continued. "However, you're both adults, and Itadori is technically a special-grade sorcerer rather than a traditional student."

Hope flickered in your chest.

"That said," he continued, "there will be conditions. No preferential treatment during medical care. No compromising missions due to personal feelings. And absolutely no public displays of affection on school grounds."

"We understand," Yuji said quickly. "We can handle that."

Yaga studied you both for a long moment. "Can you? Because yesterday's mission suggests otherwise."

The criticism stung because it was fair. Yuji's protectiveness had put him at risk, made him reckless.

"It won't happen again," you said firmly. "We'll keep our personal and professional lives separate."

"See that you do." Yaga's expression softened slightly. "For what it's worth, you're good for him. He's been happier these past few weeks than I've seen him since he arrived here."

Outside his office, you and Yuji walked in silence until you reached a quiet courtyard.

"So," you said finally, "we're official now?"

"Officially complicated," he replied with a rueful smile. "Think you can handle dating someone who's possessed by the King of Curses?"

You'd been wondering when he'd bring up Sukuna. The entity inside him was something you'd have to navigate together.

"I'm not dating Sukuna," you said simply. "I'm dating you. Yuji Itadori. The guy who brings me coffee in the morning and talks to stray cats and cries during sad movies."

His smile turned genuine. "Even the crying part?"

"Especially the crying part. It shows you have a good heart."

He pulled you into his arms, spinning you around until you laughed. "I love you so much it's stupid," he said, setting you down.

"Good," you replied, standing on your toes to kiss him. "Because I plan on loving you for a very long time."

Chapter 8: New Normal
Six months later, you'd settled into a rhythm that worked for both of you. Professional during school hours, completely devoted to each other in your free time. You'd moved into a small apartment together off-campus, and every morning felt like a small miracle.

Yuji was sunshine personified in the mornings—singing in the shower, making elaborate breakfasts, kissing you awake when you tried to sleep in. He approached your relationship with the same wholehearted enthusiasm he brought to everything else.

"Good morning, beautiful," he murmured against your neck one Saturday morning, his arms wrapping around you from behind as you made coffee.

"Morning," you replied, leaning back against his chest. "Sleep well?"

"Always do when you're here." He pressed a kiss to your temple. "What do you want to do today?"

"Nothing," you said contentedly. "Absolutely nothing."

"I love nothing days," he said, spinning you around to face him. "Means I get you all to myself."

His kiss tasted like toothpaste and promises, and you marveled at how right this felt. How perfectly you fit together.

"I have something for you," he said suddenly, reaching into his pocket.

"Yuji, if this is an engagement ring, I'm going to kill you. We talked about waiting—"

"It's not a ring," he laughed, producing a small wrapped box. "Open it."

Inside was a delicate gold chain with a small sun pendant.

"It's beautiful," you breathed.

"It reminded me of you," he said, suddenly shy. "How you brighten everything around you. How you make me feel like I'm finally where I belong."

You looked up at him, this impossibly kind, endlessly optimistic man who'd somehow chosen to love you.

"Help me put it on?"

He fastened the chain around your neck with gentle fingers, then stepped back to admire the effect.

"Perfect," he said softly.

"I love you, Yuji Itadori," you said, your hand coming up to touch the pendant. "All of you. Even the complicated parts."

"Even Sukuna?" he asked, only half-joking.

"Even Sukuna. Though I reserve the right to ignore him when he's being dramatic."

Yuji's laugh was bright and joyful, the sound you'd fallen in love with from the very beginning. He pulled you close, and you could feel his happiness radiating from every part of him.

"Forever?" he asked against your lips.

"Forever," you promised.

Outside, the world continued its chaotic dance of curses and sorcerers, danger and duty. But inside your small apartment, wrapped in each other's arms, you felt invincible. Whatever came next, you'd face it together—you and Yuji and all the bright tomorrows stretching out ahead of you.

It was more than enough. It was everything.

The End