The days at Jujutsu High seemed to blend into one another with the same rustle of routine. The chill of mid-November had settled into the air, and the momiji trees lining the courtyard wore fiery shades of red and gold, their leaves fluttering down in silent waves. Classes had continued as usual, though the cold brought a certain stillness to the once lively corridors.
Inside the classroom, the day's lecture was wrapping up. Sana sat in her usual place-between Suguru and Shoko-her notebook open but her pen resting lazily across the page. Across from her, at the far corner near the window, Satoru sat slouched in his chair, one hand tucked into his pocket and the other absentmindedly twirling a pencil.
Yaga-sensei, his voice deep and firm, brought the class to an end.
"Alright, that's enough for today," he said, closing the textbook with a soft thud. His eyes lingered on the students before finally settling on one face. "Sana."
She blinked, straightening.
"Yes, sensei?"
The others glanced curiously toward her. It wasn't often Yaga addressed someone so directly at the end of class. Sana braced herself for a question about coursework, but instead his words carried a tone she didn't expect.
"If you want, you can take a break during the winters and go home," he said matter-of-factly. "In this season, there are fewer structured classes. Most of the time, you'll find yourself alone here while the others are deployed to deal with curses far stronger than before. It can become… lonely. You might be better off at home, continuing your training there. Of course, if you'd rather stay and prepare for your upcoming competitions, you may."
His words hung in the air for a moment. Without another glance, Yaga gathered his notes and walked out of the classroom, his heavy steps echoing down the hall.
The room fell into silence-then broke into murmurs and suppressed laughter.
"It's the first time I've ever seen Yaga-sensei worry about a student like that," Satoru chuckled, leaning back with a grin.
Suguru smirked, resting his chin on his hand. "Special treatment, huh?"
Shoko gave Sana a teasing look. "Guess someone's teacher's favourite."
Sana flushed, throwing her hands up. "Shut up, all of you! I'm just… a good student, so sensei treats me special." Her attempt at pride only made the others laugh harder.
Still, when their laughter died down, she glanced at them seriously. "But… I think I should stay with you guys."
Satoru tilted his head, the grin softening into something more thoughtful. "No, Sana-san. I think you should go and spend time with your family and there'll be exams again before the new session starts. You won't have another chance to visit them until next spring, maybe even next winter. Take this time while you can." His voice carried a surprising warmth, laced with genuine concern.
Sana's lips curved into a small smile. "Alright. If you're saying that, then I'll go. But not today. I'll leave tomorrow."
And so, the day slipped into its usual rhythm. Sana spent her afternoon packing her bag, folding winter clothes neatly and tucking a few notebooks into her case so she could keep up with studies for the exams. The sun dipped low, casting a honey-colored glow through the dorm windows. By evening, they were all together again, walking side by side to dinner, laughter rising between them like smoke in the cold air.
Later, when night stretched over Jujutsu High, each of them returned to their rooms. Suguru was the first to fall into deep sleep. Shoko stayed awake, propped up in bed with her laptop, watching a movie in hushed tones. From her own room, Sana noticed a faint glow under Satoru's door-the light was still on. She assumed he was studying.
Restless, she decided to step outside as she couldn't sleep. She didn't bother changing out of her sweatshirt and shorts; the corridors were empty, and the courtyard even emptier. A bite of cold nipped at her legs as she padded across the doorways.
But as she approached the basketball court, she picked up a ball and immediately she froze. Someone was already there.
Satoru stood at the free-throw line, spinning the ball on his finger before sinking it through the hoop with casual grace. His tall frame moved fluidly, every motion effortless.
He sensed her presence almost immediately, glancing her way with a small, knowing smile.
"Sana-san? You here?"
She tightened her grip on the basketball, embarrassed. "I… couldn't sleep. Thought I'd play a bit. I didn't think anyone else would be out."
Her cheeks warmed as she realized she was standing there in shorts, something she never wore outside her room.
Satoru tilted his head, grinning. "Guess great minds think alike. Come on--- one game?"
Reluctantly, she stepped onto the court. Soon, the two of them were darting back and forth, their laughter echoing into the night. Sana's movements were sharp and focused, surprising even herself when she managed to steal the ball from him and score. Satoru played with his usual show-off flair, spinning the ball, making dramatic half-court shots, though he let her take the lead more than once. Sana surprised herself with her speed, her focus sharp, and more than once she left him blinking as the ball slipped past his fingers.
After nearly an hour, both of them collapsed onto the court, breathless and flushed, their bodies warm despite the cold. The stars glittered above them, the silence between their laughter soft and easy.
"You play really well, Sana-san," Satoru said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Didn't think you'd keep up with me."
She smiled, hugging her knees. "You underestimate me too much. I'm not just the good student in class."
He chuckled, his voice lighter than usual. "Fair enough."
A moment of silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint rustle of wind. Then Sana, almost hesitantly, asked, "Satoru… can I ask you something?"
"Depends," he teased. "What do you want to know?" he said, leaning back on his palms, pretending to be casual though his heart thudded faster.
She hesitated. "About you."
He blinked at her, then leaned back, stretching his arms behind him. For once, his usual grin softened into something quieter. "What do you want to know?"
"Your family," she said softly. "What's your family like? I never hear you talk about them."
The air grew still. He exhaled, eyes lifting toward the ceiling. "My mother died right after I was born. Never really knew her. My father… remarried. Didn't matter much. Once I was born with Six Eyes, the clan treated me like some kind of… asset. My parents got higher status because of me, but love? No, that was never in the picture."
His words carried no anger, only a dull, practiced detachment. "They raised me like a weapon more than a child. Lonely, yeah. But I guess I got used to it."
Sana's chest tightened at his words. Slowly, almost without thinking, she reached out and touched his hand resting on the ground. Her fingers brushed lightly against his knuckles before retreating, as if unsure if she was allowed. She wanted to tell him he wasn't alone. But the hesitation bound her, and all she could do was look at him, her eyes soft with unspoken words.
He didn't move, but the corner of his mouth curved faintly. "You're braver than most, you know. Everyone else just… leaves it alone. But you actually ask."
Her voice was quiet, almost trembling. "Because I want to know you… not just the Satoru everyone sees, but the one behind it."
Something in his chest stirred at her words. He turned his head, meeting her eyes. The cold night, the empty court, the weight of his loneliness, suddenly it all felt less sharp. "Careful, Sana-san," he murmured, his voice lower now, more serious. "If you look too closely, you might not like what you find."
Satoru caught her gaze, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of his loneliness seemed to show. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, just as quickly, he smiled, bright and carefree, as though the moment hadn't happened.
"Well, enough of that gloomy stuff," he said, springing to his feet and offering her a hand. "It's late. Let's head back before we get scolded for sneaking around."
She took his hand, rising to her feet. Side by side, they walked back through the quiet corridors, their steps in sync. At her door, they paused.
"Good night, Sana-san," he said, his voice unusually gentle.
"Good night, Satoru."
The next morning, sunlight spilled into the courtyard, golden and cold. Sana stood at the gates with her bag slung over her shoulder. Suguru and Shoko came to see her off, Satoru standing a little behind them with his usual grin.
"Well then," she said, her voice light though her chest felt heavy. "Good luck everyone. I'll see you all soon."
"Take care," Shoko said with a small wave.
Suguru nodded. "Don't forget to study."
Satoru shoved his hands into his pockets, flashing his trademark smirk. "Enjoy home while you can. We'll hold down the fort. But don't take too long, Sana-san. You're already… annoyingly hard to replace."
For a second, the world seemed to still. The smile on his lips was teasing, but his tone was softer—too soft to be just another joke.
Shoko raised an eyebrow, glancing at Suguru.
Sana's cheeks flamed, her fingers tightening on the strap of her bag. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. All she could do was give him a small, flustered smile before lowering her gaze.
Then everyone said good byes last time.
Sana's smile wavered, but she nodded firmly. "Goodbye, everyone."
With that, she turned and walked through the gates, her figure shrinking against the bright winter morning until it disappeared beyond the horizon.
And behind her, Jujutsu High stood tall and quiet, the echo of her laughter still lingering in its halls.