Liam leaned against his car, the night air crisp against his skin. The city lights flickered in the distance, a quiet hum filling the empty street. His fingers hovered over his phone for a moment before he finally sighed and dialed the number.
It rang twice before the familiar, annoyingly chipper voice answered.
"Oi, Liam! Miss me already?"
Liam rolled his eyes. "I swear, if you don't take things seriously for once, I'm hanging up."
Gojo chuckled. "Oof, straight to business. You wound me, buddy."
Liam exhaled through his nose. "Suguru came to see me today."
Silence. The playful atmosphere instantly dropped, the line filled with tension that neither of them acknowledged.
Then, Gojo spoke, his voice lower. "...What did he want?"
Liam's grip tightened on his phone. "He was dancing around it, but he wanted to probe me. To see if I'd join him. He didn't say it outright, but I could tell."
A sharp exhale from the other side. "Tch. That bastard."
Liam tilted his head back, staring at the dark sky. "I told him I wasn't interested. But, Gojo—"
Gojo hummed. "Yeah?"
"If I had to guess… Geto's main target is Yuuta, precisely it's Rika."
Another pause. This time, it was longer.
Then, Gojo let out a breathy laugh. "Man… You really don't hold back, huh?"
Liam's eyes darkened. "I know how Geto thinks. He wants her, Gojo. The Queen of Curses. If he gets his hands on her—"
"—It's game over," Gojo finished, his voice uncharacteristically grim.
Liam nodded to himself. "Not exactly. But something like that... so keep an eye on Yuuta, but don't let your guard down around Rika either. If I'm right, Geto's panned something big."
Gojo didn't reply immediately. Liam could almost feel the weight pressing on him through the phone.
Finally, Gojo sighed. "I got it, man. I'll handle it."
Liam frowned slightly. "Don't underestimate him."
Gojo scoffed. "I never underestimate Geto. If anything, I—"
He stopped himself, clicking his tongue. "Doesn't matter. Just worry about yourself, Liam. You've got your own hands full."
Liam hummed in agreement. "I will."
There was a pause before Gojo's voice softened just a bit. "…Thanks for telling me."
Liam smirked. "You better make it worth my time. Don't screw up."
Gojo laughed. "Pfft, as if I would."
And with that, he hung up.
Liam stared at his phone for a moment before slipping it into his pocket.
He didn't like this.
He really didn't like this.
His gut told him things were only going to get worse from here.
By the time Liam arrived home, exhaustion weighed down on him. The entire day had been a mess. He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him before tossing his coat over the chair. The house was quiet, save for the faint ticking of the clock.
With a deep breath, he ran a hand through his hair and loosened his tie. His body felt heavy, but his mind refused to settle.
Geto
Back then, Liam hadn't agreed with either Gojo or Geto's ideology. He had simply watched as they drifted apart, unable to stop the inevitable.
And now?
Now, Geto was a different person.
The same best friend who once fought beside Gojo, who had laughed and shared stupid conversations with him… was now a man who killed without hesitation, who saw non-sorcerers as nothing more than insects.
It left a bad taste in Liam's mouth.
He rubbed his temple, sighing. "What a pain in the ass…"
Shaking his head, he made his way to his bedroom. He needed rest—his body demanded it.
But even as he lay down, staring at the ceiling, sleep refused to come. Because deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
And for some reason… he had a feeling he wouldn't be sleeping peacefully for a long time.
----
The next day
Liam stretched his arms as he stepped outside, breathing in the crisp morning air. Last night had been exhausting—Geto's visit, the warning he gave Gojo, and the lingering thoughts that wouldn't leave his mind. He had been hoping for a peaceful start to his day.
Unfortunately, peace wasn't something he was allowed to have.
Because standing just outside was an unfamiliar presence—one that made his instincts sharpen immediately.
A woman.
And not just any woman.
She was tall, her presence effortless yet commanding. A long, golden cascade of hair spilled down her back, its strands shimmering under the sunlight like molten silk. Two sharp tufts framed her face, accentuating her wide, deep brown eyes—mischievous and sharp, full of something unreadable. She had a defined, athletic build, yet her curves were undeniable, a body that was both feminine and strong.
She wore a fitted white crop top that hugged her ample chest, exposing just a hint of toned abs, and sleek black pants that clung to her long, shapely legs. The confident smirk on her lips only added to the allure, like she was in on a joke no one else knew.
Liam's eyebrow twitched. He didn't recognize her personally, but he knew exactly who she was.
Yuki Tsukumo! What is she doing here?
The Special-Grade Sorcerer who refused to be tied down by Jujutsu High.
The Wanderer. The outlier.
And someone he had specifically tried to avoid.
Yet, here she was, standing in front of his house, acting like she belonged there.
Yuki tilted her head, her lips pulling into a grin as she waved casually.
"Yo~"
Liam sighed, already feeling the headache forming. "And you are?"
Yuki pouted, placing a hand on her hip. "Aw, don't tell me you don't know who I am? That's just rude."
She clicked her tongue. "I've heard a lot about you, Liam Nakamura."
Liam's expression didn't change, but his fingers twitched slightly.
So she had been looking into him.
"And?" He asked flatly.
Yuki smirked. "And I got curious. So I decided to meet you myself."
Liam stared at her, unimpressed. "Right. And the reason you're standing outside my house?"
Yuki shrugged. "Felt like the best way to surprise you."
Liam exhaled sharply. "You're already giving me a bad first impression."
Yuki grinned. "Oh? That just means I have room to improve."
Liam ran a hand through his hair. "Cut the crap. What do you actually want?"
Yuki stepped closer, her movements smooth and deliberate, like a predator studying its prey. Her brown eyes gleamed with something playful, yet knowing.
"Alright, let's start with something easy," She said, her voice light. "Tell me, what's your type?"
Liam blinked. Then, very slowly, his facial muscles twitched.
Was this woman seriously doing this right now?
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why the hell would I answer that?"
Yuki leaned forward slightly, eyes shining with amusement. "Because I asked nicely?"
Liam sighed. Fine. If she wanted to play games, he'd humor her.
"I don't have a particular type," He said, then paused. "...but if I had to pick, long legs and a nice ass aren't bad."
Yuki raised an eyebrow, then burst into laughter. "Pfft—seriously? That's so straightforward. I love it."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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