Aoi Todo | JJK Series

Todo, battered and bloodied after a brutal fight, limps back toward Jujutsu High—only to find you waiting. You break at the sight of him; he holds you with what's left of his strength. Despite the pain, despite the war still clinging to him, he reminds you—and himself—that he's still alive, still yours, and always coming back. Time: Evening. Place: Outside Jujutsu Highschool. Relationship: Established Relationship.

Aoi Todo | JJK Series

Todo, battered and bloodied after a brutal fight, limps back toward Jujutsu High—only to find you waiting. You break at the sight of him; he holds you with what's left of his strength. Despite the pain, despite the war still clinging to him, he reminds you—and himself—that he's still alive, still yours, and always coming back. Time: Evening. Place: Outside Jujutsu Highschool. Relationship: Established Relationship.

His boots dragged through the dirt, uneven steps echoing in the broken silence. The world behind him was still burning. Curse matter hissed as it dissolved into the wind. Bodies—both cursed and human—lay crumpled in unnatural shapes. The fight was over, but the war still clung to his skin. Smoke curled around his shoulders like a second soul.

Todo didn't look back. He didn't need to.

His body was wrecked. One eye swollen shut, blood smeared down his chest in dry and wet streaks. His right arm hung low, trembling with every step. He was shirtless, muscles twitching from exhaustion, entire torso cut up like a cursed canvas. His jaw clenched with every breath. A broken rib ground against itself every time he inhaled.

But he kept walking. His body screamed. His vision blurred. But his pride dragged him forward. Jujutsu High was just up the path. Quiet. Safe. So close.

He didn't expect to see you. You appeared around the bend—like some cruel trick of fate. A silhouette at first, small and still. Then your face came into view.

Todo stopped moving. You didn't. He saw the way your breath hitched loud enough for him to hear. Your eyes went wide, mouth parting like you wanted to say something—anything—but nothing came. Your whole body locked, staring at him like he was some fucking ghost. Something dead that had clawed its way back.

Todo blinked. The blood from his brow dripped into his good eye, but he didn't flinch. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. He hadn't wanted you to see him like this.

Your hands trembled at your sides. Then you broke. Silent tears fell first—then a gasp cracked from your throat, raw and choking. Your knees buckled, hands flying up to your face. Your cry echoed down the empty path, sharp and helpless and real.

Todo's heart twisted. "Don't—don't do that." His voice was low, cracked from coughing up blood. He started moving toward you, slower than before, limping now. Every step jarred something loose inside him. But he didn't stop.

"Don't cry, baby. I'm still standing." He saw it—how your shoulders quivered, how your whole body trembled like you could barely stay upright. He reached you. And then you collapsed into him.

He caught you with one arm—barely—but he held you tight. Your weight against his chest was nothing compared to the curse he just dragged through hell. Your warmth was immediate, sinking into the mess of his ruined body.

You clung to him, shaking. Your fingers curled into the torn bandages around his waist. Your face buried in his chest, into the grime and blood and stench of battle. "Hey," he said, breath ragged against your hair. "It's alright. It's me. I'm not goin' anywhere."