Chapter Text
Utahime had always been aware of Gojo Satoru's existence.
When she was old enough to remember important pieces of information, the wonder baby that he was became one of the first things she knew. The three year gap between them had kept them mostly apart, as well as the social circle they both belonged in, but that soon would change when the Iori family found itself doing business with the Gojo clan.
Her parents started visiting the big estate and along the way they thought it would be a good idea to bring her, that way she would learn the inner workings of the jujutsu families and maybe befriend people that could benefit her in the future. She had been taught that the Gojo heir was extremely important not only for the clan but for the entire world, the limitless and six eyes user maintained the balance and should be taken care of accordingly. He was raised completely different than anyone else, people at his beck and call for anything he wanted, crazy amounts of security surrounding him at all times and people constantly telling him he was practically a god.
So she really wasn't surprised to find out he was an egocentric kid.
She had been walking around the estate for a while now, amazed at the cherry blossom trees in full bloom planted everywhere her eyes could see, the luscious gardens and fancy fountains adorning any free space. She wasn't paying attention to the corridor she was walking on, missing the curious blue gaze of a boy that hid behind one of the doors. As she passes it, the sound of footsteps and the sliding of a door makes her pause and turn her head. In front of her stood the famous Gojo Satoru, she was sure, who else could have hair as white as snow and infinite blue eyes? It had to be him.
Panicking slightly inside Utahime did what any normal polite person would do, she bowed and gave him a small friendly smile.
"Who are you?" the boy asked in a flat tone, wearing a stoic expression. She felt herself getting even more nervous. Why was he being so blunt?
"Iori Utahime, nice to meet you"
"Iori? You mean that weak family from Kyoto?"
How dare he? Utahime thought as she felt herself getting red in the face from anger. This stupid boy lacked any type of manners and didn't even care of making a good impression on strangers.
Fuming silently she did the only think she could think of, stuck her tongue out at him and ran off to find her parents and accuse that mean boy. She didn't care if he was the most powerful person in the entire galaxy, he was mean to her family so she greatly disliked him.
The next time she was taken to the estate she was practically dragged by her mom. She spent the entire ride there pouting and continued to do so when they reached their destination. She planned on staying put in one of the gardens to decrease the chances of meeting him, but the universe must had had something against her because he found her either way. They stood glaring at each other a few meters apart.
"You didn't ask my name the other day" he said with the same stoic expression she had grown to associate him with.
"I already know who you are" she replied rolling her eyes. She refused to be nice to him.
He said nothing and continued to stare her down unmoving. She was getting restless and also a little unnerved at his supernatural stare, she felt like he could see inside her mind with those eyes. About to get up and leave him there she stopped as he moved first and sat next to her in the garden bench.
"Why did you run away?"
Was he serious? He couldn't possible not know.
"You were mean to me and my family" she replied irritated.
Mean? He had only repeated what he had heard from one of the clan's member, he didn't know he was being mean. Maybe girls were too sensitive, that's what one of his older cousins used to say anyway.
"No, I wasn't" he replied quietly.
"Whatever" Utahime was done with the conversation and got up to leave, but before she could get far a hand shot up to her arm and held her back.
"W-Wait don't go. Do you wanna play something?" Satoru was flushing furiously down at the ground, avoiding her gaze.
He didn't want to admit she was the first girl outside of his family he had met. And also he really didn't want to admit she was pretty, like really pretty.
The girl studied him slowly and decided to be the bigger person and give him the benefit of the doubt. "Only if you promise to be nice to me from now on" She declared firmly.
The boy looked up surprised that she had agreed and nodded his head in agreement. He could do that or at least he would try.
Utahime knew he was definitely going to be mean to her at some point again, but she could also see the big effort it was for him to ask her to stay and she figured he didn't get to meet many people normally. Growing up this sheltered had to have its effects on the boy, his cluelessness about social interactions a big show of that.
So that's how they spent their time whenever Utahime went to the Gojo estate. They would play whatever game they thought off and the girl tried not to lose her patience. Satoru was full of egocentric remarks and mean comments he thought weren't mean, so more often than not she would end up screaming at him to respect her. The boy's crestfallen face after she threatened to leave him alone was the only thing preventing her from leaving. Utahime was a good girl, so good she wouldn't leave an obviously lonely boy even if he was annoying. She was too wise for a 10 year old.
Both of them wouldn't admit that after all the time they spent together they cared for each other, even if it was just a little. But that wouldn't amount to anything because one day the Iori family stopped going to the estate and they lost all contact. Utahime had asked her parents many times what had happened, but they simply stated that their business had ended and had no other reason to visit the clan anymore. Utahime wouldn't admit how sad she had been for many days after that, how much time she spent wondering if he would even miss her.
But he did miss her and his cousins would mess with him over the pout he wore for a long time after learning that the Ioris wouldn't be coming back. He wished he had more opportunities to call her weak and watch her pretty face get all red.
So yes, Utahime had always been aware of Gojo Satoru, even many years after they met. The gossip that followed every step the Gojo heir took was impossible to escape, even if she didn't care for it. She doubted he remembered her, probably another face in the infinite sea of faces he surely had met by now.
As his powers developed and the promising young sorcerer entered Jujutsu Tech in Tokyo, she was coursing her last year at the Kyoto sister school, completely oblivious at the fact that their paths were meant to cross again at the yearly Goodwill Event.
By this point the memories of their time together as kids were distant and blurry, so it really came as a shock when the teachers gathered all the participants in the event and she came face to face with the unmistaken mop of messy white hair, now paired with a very tall body and sunglass covered striking eyes. Of course he was a jujutsu student! How could she forget?
She didn't want to acknowledge her slight disappointment at his lack of recognition, he was actually looking rather bored talking quietly with a dark haired guy that wore the same smirk as him. She wouldn't be surprised if he was as egocentric as Satoru.
Gojo she chastised herself. You're no longer friends, you have to call him by his last name.
She was dreading the moment she would have to introduce herself, not wanting to embarrass herself further. But she looked anywhere but his face and declared her name loudly and proudly, ready to win the event and make her family proud, completely missing the disbelieving look in Gojo's face after hearing her name.
"Utahime?! Is that you?"
Oh no.
He remembered.
-
Utahime had underestimated everything about Gojo Satoru.
She had underestimated his memories of her, his physical abilities that were absolutely above average (the Tokyo school did win because of him), his techniques that were amazing to look at, even if they weren't polished or used to their full potential, and also how attractive he had grown up to be -but she wasn't admitting that anytime soon.
But above all, she had underestimated his ability to annoy her to no end.
You would think that he would've matured, taken his roll more seriously in the jujutsu society and as future head of his clan but no, he really hadn't changed. He remained the same disrespectful boy that loved to make her lose her wits. But it was even worse now because people called him and his friend Geto Suguru "The Strongest". Those idiots had filled his head with praises and over exaggerated compliments, creating the little monster that he was now.
Maybe it would've been better to remain strangers Utahime bitterly thought.
But it was too late now because Satoru was elated to have Utahime back in his life again, and he wouldn't be leaving her alone anytime soon. How had he missed her face getting all red and angry at whatever nonsense he decided to tell her, but he had to admit that its effects were different now. Her reactions used to make him snicker as a kid, loving that somebody out of his usual circle finally acted genuinely. He was tired of people giving him side looks or kissing the floor he walked on. Stupid little fries all of them. But now he felt his heart doing weird things whenever he saw her face. She had become a beautiful young woman, because that's what she was, a woman. She was 18 now and Satoru would be lying if he said that didn't make him a little hot.
Those adorable pigtails didn't match with her spitfire attitude but the traditional attire she wore did make sense, she had always been too respectful and obedient for her own good.
I would love to ruin her, just a little he thought.
The great Gojo Satoru wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty to make his adorable senpai loosen up a little bit. After all, they had many years to make up for.
-
"U-ta-hi-me!"
"Gojo leave me alone" That was her automatic response for him. "And it's Utahime-senpai to you, respect your elders!" God he was infuriating.
"Oh, I can be your little obedient kouhai. Would you like that?" Gojo's smug smirk meant trouble no matter the situation.
Utahime blushed in all shades of red at his words. What was he implying?¡
"I-I you idiot..."
"Oh, you're blushing Utahime! Do you like that idea?"
She was going to kill him.
-
"Utahime you're so tiny! I could fit you inside one of my pockets"
"Are you insane?"
"I'll show you"
That was her only warning before she felt the boys hands lifting her from her previous spot on the lunch table, and placing her on his lap. Shoko, Mei Mei and Suguru were laughing at her shocked expression thinking that the bickering between these two was better than any comedy on tv.
Gojo was smirking proudly at having proved his point, she fit perfectly in his lap and even had more space for her to change positions. He put his arms around her waist and hugged her closer to his chest. He tried not to get distracted by the sweet perfume she wore, or the clean smell of her hair, or how he would love to squeeze her more...
Suddenly he was knocked out on his ass with a furious Utahime above him ready to inflict more damage. Damn she knew how to hit! That actually hurt.
"Touch me like that again and I'll kick you in the balls Gojo, I swear!"
"So that means I can touch you in other ways?"
He never knew when to shut up.
-
"You cryin'?"
"I'm not crying you idiot!" Who did he think he was?
"Come on Satoru, it's not nice to mess with the weak"
If she could have afforded to be shoeless right now she would've knocked them both unconscious with her heeled shoes.
-
"How are you feeling for your date today? I'm so excited for you!" Shoko was the best person to come to for girl emergency. She and Utahime had spent hours rummaging through Shoko's closet trying to find something suitable for a date at a coffee shop.
A fellow jujutsu sorcerer had asked her out the day before on a joint mission at Tokyo and Utahime didn't find a reason to say no. He was cute and treated her with kindness everytime they had met, so that checked half the boxes already of what she looked for in men.
Since she hadn't brought any other outfits beside work ones, her friend was helping her a great deal turning her bedroom at the school into a makeshift makeover salon. They found a mid thigh lavender dress that looked great with her white bow, combined with strappy brown sandals. She thought she looked pretty good when she looked herself in the mirror, she hoped he thought so too.
"I'm kind of nervous but that's normal right? It's been awhile since I've gone on a date..." Utahime tried to remember her last date with difficulty, it mustn't have been good if she had this much trouble trying to remember it. Maybe last year? Damn it was a long time ago, she didn't know how she felt about that...
"Well, it's not like it's easy to date in our line of work Uta" Shoko replied as she gave the final touches on her friend's lipstick.
"You're right as always" She said with a smile of gratitude.
Utahime walked towards the school's exit distractedly when she was done getting ready, making a mental list of all the things she could need. She had her wallet, more perfume, lipstick in case she needed a retouch...
"Utahime?"
She should've known there were high chances of meeting him since he did attend this school, but she wanted to think that god would spare her today of his presence. She had been too optimistic.
She could feel Gojo's gaze from her head to her toes, examining every part of her outfit. She felt the sudden need to cover herself, feeling way too exposed, but that would be stupid so she didn't. She looked him right in the eye with the most neutral expression she could muster.
"Hi Gojo"
"W-What are you doing? Why are you dressed like that?" He had a frown on his face and she didn't know what to make of that. Was he frowning because he thought she looked ugly?
Get it together Utahime, you don't care what he thinks.
"I don't see how that's any of your business. Now if you'll excuse, I have somewhere to go..."
She side stepped him not wanting him to make her late to her date, but his hand grabbing hers quickly stopped her. She turned to see their joined hands, feeling a blush starting for a reason she didn't know, and a Gojo that now looked really upset.
What was his deal?
"Are you going on a...date?" He asked quietly, afraid to hear the answer if he was honest with himself.
There was this ugly feeling in the pit of his stomach at seeing Utahime all dolled up, probably to go out with some guy. Since when did she go on dates anyway? He had never heard of a boyfriend, but then again they lived in different cities, maybe she had someone and he just hadn't heard about it. Anytime he asked Shoko about her, she would ignore him and tell him to ask those questions himself. Well he obviously couldn't just do that, did he? Utahime had difficulties talking to him about normal topics, let alone personal questions, she would probably slap him or something.
Their communication issues were obviously his fault. He wasn't the smartest when it came to girls but he knew that annoying them really wasn't the best way to get on their good sides, let alone their hearts. But he didn't know how else to act around her, seeing her again at the Goodwill Event was like getting a rug pulled from his feet, making him fall on his ass. His time with her as children, as little as it had been in comparison to the rest of his life, had been one of the happiest, if not the happiest. He was afraid to lose that connection again, so behaving the way he had all those years ago seemed like the best idea at the time. It felt safe, she felt safe.
But an older Utahime definitely didn't agree with his tactics.
"Yes I am" She admitted with a sigh. Maybe he would leave her alone if she told him whatever he wanted."Why? Do you need something?" Of course he didn't need anything, but the other options for his weird behaviour were to wild to even think about.
"With who?"
"I don't think you know him"
They were still holding hands and they were both fully aware of that. Utahime tried to slip her hand back but Gojo didn't let her, he held it harder and pulled her entire body towards him. He now loomed above her, way too close for her liking.
"Probably some weak sorcerer" He said smirking. Oh no, here we go with the "I'm the strongest" bullshit again. "If you wanted to date someone you could've told me Utahime. I'm sure your family would be delighted if you date the great Gojo Satoru"
The words tasted bitter in his mouth but he hid it well under his mask of over confidence. He didn't know why was he saying things like that, its not like he was jealous or anything... right?
I mean Utahime was pretty and talented, even if he loved to call her weak most of the time, but that didn't imply he had feelings for her...right?
"Why would I want to date you?!" She asked with a murderous look on her face.
"The real question is why wouldn't you?"
Utahime took a deep breath and put as much distance between them as Satoru let her. "Let's make a list, shall we? Number one, you're insufferable. Number two, you call me weak at any chance you get, amongst other things. Number three, you're younger than me. Why would I prefer to date a kid over a man, huh?"
"And most importantly, I wouldn't date someone who treats me like crap all the time" She finished. Utahime hadn't realized how much she was heaving, when their usual banter had turned into real anger.
Satoru was speechless, rooted to the spot. She was actually furious, face red and if he looked closely he could see unshed tears in her eyes.
Oh no, he had fucked up.
"Hime come on..." He tried to pull her towards him but she wouldn't budge. Shaking off his hand she turned around and left him there.
He saw her walk out of the school and felt the worst he had ever felt in a long time. It was all meant to be jokes, he liked messing with her but he didn't actually mean most of the things he said. She had to know that right?
He should probably tell her.
-
The star plasma vessel accident happened before they got a chance to talk, and everything changed after that.
Satoru had become The Strongest, far away from anyone around him. With his infinity on all the time he was invincible, nobody could hurt him again. Not even Utahime's fist reached him anymore, nor her words either.
He was too busy all the time fighting curses, getting stronger and more skilled. Everyone else got left behind.
Suguru had lost weight and himself, without anybody noticing.
-
Utahime found out about Suguru's doings from Gakuganji. The elder had nothing useful or nice to say about the situation, he had always been envious of him and Satoru. She could tell he was kind of happy it had happened, it was his proof that the strongest pair were not as all powerful as everyone thought.
She thought of reaching out to Gojo but never did in the end. What would she say anyway?
I'm sorry that your best friend is a murderer now.
I cared about him too, he was annoying just like you but he behaved better in general.
Are you okay?
They were all useless words anyway.
-
The next time he saw her she was unconciuos bleeding out at his feet, a huge gash on her face pouring a dangerous quantity of blood. Paralyzed at the gruesome scene he watched as Mei Mei grabbed her to take her as fast as possible to Shoko, while yelling at him to finish the 2nd grade curse that had turned out to be a special grade.
Seconds after there were nothing but ashes of that monster and the smell of Utahime's blood.
What was the point of being the strongest if he wasn't able to save the ones that mattered?