After Class,
The afternoon sun passed gently through the office windows, casting a warm glow across the cluttered room.
Gojo Satoru had just finished collecting textbooks for the two new students and returned to his office, his hands full with their neatly stacked books.
No sooner had he closed the door behind him than a small, familiar figure leapt directly into his arms.
"Ah—who is this hamsters! It's Umaru~!"
Umaru's cheeks pressed against his chest as she sighed with a dreamy expression, completely at ease in his embrace.
"Okay, okay," Gojo said, rubbing her head with a gentle hand, "calm down. If Kirara sees this, she'll scold me to death."
At the mention of Kirara Hoshino, Umaru stiffened, her pink little mouth opening slightly in surprise. Her grip loosened just enough for her to peek around cautiously, her shiny hair glinting in the afternoon sun.
During the past week, the ever-persistent Kirara had scolded Umaru at least three times, each session leaving Umaru more psychologically wary than the last.
"Uh-huh~!" Umaru squeaked, taking a step back. But her gaze froze as she saw Gojo Satoru in the office.
"You… you took off the blindfold!" Her eyes sparkled with hearts, her body instinctively trying to pounce again, but then…
A faint voice called from outside the office.
"You little Hamster… what are you doing?"
Umaru froze mid-step. She gently tapped her forehead, pouting with confusion, and whispered to herself, "Ah… right, I left my things in the classroom. Gotta go back."
With a hurried skip, she fled the office—
Gojo only shrugged, watching her disappear. She may escape for now, but not forever, he thought with a faint smile.
Turning his attention to the other student still in the office, he noticed Hikiya Hachiman, standing silently with his deadpan expression that had earned him the nickname "Dead Fish Eyes."
"Shizuka-sensei… who is this dead fish-eyed kid?" Gojo asked curiously, pointing. He tilted his head as he examined Hachiman, his expression the perfect mix of intrigue and amusement. There was something familiar about him, though Gojo couldn't immediately place it.
Hachiman's face twitched ever so slightly at the comment. Great… so my eyes are literally that memorable, he thought.
Hiratsuka Shizune, who had just entered and taken a seat behind her desk, rolled her eyes. "Gojo-sensei, this is my student, Hikiya Hachiman."
"Ahhh!" Gojo exclaimed, finally putting the pieces together. "No wonder he looks familiar! Of course… the 'Dead Fish Eyes' himself!"
Hachiman remained unimpressed, his expression unchanged at his comment.
Meanwhile, Hiratsuka settled behind her desk with a small sigh. Earlier, she had given her students a mock essay assignment themed on "Youth," only to be shocked by Hachiman's interpretation.
"Youth is a lie, an evil. People who sing praises of youth constantly deceive themselves. Always face your surroundings with skepticism…"
Gojo, brewing two cups of coffee while peeking at Hachiman's essay, couldn't stop himself from laughing at what he might have written, as He set one cup on Hiratsuka's desk with a gentle thud.
"You seem troubled, Shizuka-sensei," Gojo said with a teasing grin.
Hiratsuka rubbed her temples, exhaustion evident. She handed the essay over to him silently.
Gojo picked it up and read through it. And then… he burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Poof—hahaha! Oh, Hachiman, you little genius! I can't…hahaha..I can't stop laughing!"
Hachiman's face twisted into a resentful scowl. "I don't get it… teacher?"
Gojo waved his hand dismissively, still chuckling.
"Sorry, sorry! I'm normally very professional, I don't laugh like this—unless the subject is… well… just this funny! Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed through the office, spilling out slightly into the hall. Students passing by peeked curiously, only to see the closed door.
Hiratsuka, trying not to smile, simply muttered, "Gojo…"
Even after a minute, Gojo couldn't stop. He sipped his coffee to regain composure, still chuckling softly.
"Haha… oh man. This kid… such a remarkable way of seeing the world."
"Gojo-sensei…" Hiratsuka tried, still holding back her own smile, "please… control yourself."
"But really," Gojo continued, setting the cup down, "Hachiman, youth isn't a lie. Sure, maybe you've experienced hardship or disappointment, and that's made you strong, you need to understand—the joys, the challenges, the fleeting excitement… all of that is unique to being young. Life is a dream, yes, but one that you have to experience fully. Well, it may be less exciting than my life though."
Hachiman's lips pressed into a thin line, as he mutter.
"I didn't say anything wrong…"
Hiratsuka pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling wearily.
"Gojo, you're impossible."
Gojo grinned mischievously. "Exactly! That's why you keep me around." He picked up his coffee again and took a thoughtful sip. "Hachiman, enjoy your youth while you can. Don't dismiss it as false. You'll regret it if you do."
The deadpan student blinked once, as if reconsidering. "Maybe… maybe you're right."
"Of course I am," Gojo said, winking. "Now, back to class"
After, hearing Gojo's word Hachiman left without saying anything, still considering Gojo's words and his way of doing thing.
" Shizuka-sen, how are you planning to… manage him?" Gojo's asked after sometime.
Hiratsuka frowned slightly, then thought carefully. "Clubs. Put him in a club. If he interacts with others, maybe he'll loosen up and see the world differently."
Gojo nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, yes, of course. Socialization through extra-curriculars—the classic method. Very wise, Shizuka-sensei."
The office settled into a calm rhythm after that.
Gojo sipped his coffee, smiling faintly to himself. Even in a world of exorcists, Onmyoji, and extraordinary events, there was something simple and pure about guiding students through their youth. And maybe, just maybe, that was one of the most enlightening experiences of all.
Outside, the hallway buzzed faintly with students moving between classrooms, oblivious to the laughter and chatter inside the office.
Gojo's mind drifted for a moment, thinking about Umaru, Kirara, and the others.
Despite the chaos, the mischief, and the dead fish eyes, life at Sobu High School was nothing short of lively—and he wouldn't have it any other way.
...
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