Day One - The Temporary Normal
The clock ticked softly in the safehouse.
The light was warm—dim orange seeping through rice paper walls, casting long shadows across the tatami floor. Dinner plates had been cleared. Riko lay on her stomach in the center of the room, chin resting on her folded arms, watching the three second-years argue over instant curry flavors.
"You can't just drown everything in milk, Geto," Gojo was saying. "Curry deserves respect."
"It balances the heat," Geto replied, unbothered. "Your taste buds are just under-evolved."
Kishibe silently opened a can of beer in the corner and took a long sip.
Riko laughed. It slipped out like a breath she'd been holding all day.
Three strangers. Three weapons of the Jujutsu world. And yet… right now, they felt almost human.
---
Day Two – Suguru
Geto found her in the temple courtyard, seated by the koi pond. The sound of water lapping against the stone rim matched the slow cadence of her breathing.
"I can't stop thinking about my classmates," she murmured as he approached. "They didn't even know what was happening."
Geto sat beside her without a word.
"If I'd told them what I was," she continued, "they'd think I was crazy. Or a liar. Or worse."
"They'd never understand," Geto said. "Not fully."
"Do you ever feel that way?" she asked, eyes on the water. "Like no one would understand what it means to carry something like this?"
He hesitated, then gave a rare, raw answer.
"Every single day."
They sat in silence for a while. He didn't try to comfort her. He just let the truth breathe.
"I don't want to die," Riko said softly. "But I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me either."
Geto looked over at her, something deep and quiet in his expression.
"That's why we're here. Not to decide for you. Just to make sure you have the choice."
---
Day Three – Gojo
Gojo kicked open the screen door with two bags of snacks and a DVD player. "Alright, enough brooding. Time for stupid movies and junk food."
"Movies?" Riko raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be training or something?"
Gojo flopped onto the tatami floor. "Girl, I'm the strongest. I don't train. I vibe."
They ended up watching Ponyo and The Matrix in succession. Gojo gave loud, absurd commentary the entire time.
"That's literally me," he said as Neo dodged bullets. "Only hotter."
Riko laughed until she had to wipe tears from her eyes. For the first time in what felt like years, it didn't feel forced.
Between movies, she asked, "Why are you really doing this?"
Gojo looked at her, his smile fading just slightly. "You're a person, not a role. You get to have memories before it ends."
She hesitated. "You think it's going to end badly?"
Gojo leaned back, arms behind his head. "Nah. But if it does… I want your last days to be yours."
Later that night, she heard him murmuring through the paper-thin walls.
"If anyone lays a hand on her… I'll kill them."
---
Day Four – Kishibe
She found him alone, under a tree sharpening a blade with methodical care. Not just muscle memory—ritual.
"You always carry that sword?" she asked.
Kishibe didn't look up. "Sometimes it carries me."
She sat across from him, watching the way his knuckles moved, calloused and steady.
"You scare me a little," she admitted. "Not because I think you'll hurt me. But because you don't smile."
Kishibe's hand paused for a moment on the blade.
"I don't lie," he said finally. "Not even with my face."
Riko nodded slowly. "Do you believe in the merge? That I have to become someone else to keep the world spinning?"
"I believe in pain," he said. "I believe in the people left behind when the world keeps spinning anyway."
Silence.
Then: "You remind me of someone I couldn't save."
That caught her off guard.
"…Did they die?"
"Worse," he said. "They gave up."
Riko reached over and touched his wrist—just briefly. "I'm not giving up."
He didn't move. But he nodded once.
---
Day Five – The Photo
Geto set the camera timer. Gojo struck a dramatic pose. Kishibe didn't want to participate but stood in the back anyway. Riko beamed, holding up a peace sign.
The flash snapped.
The photo was off-center. Gojo was mid-laugh. Kishibe blinked. Geto had the faintest smile.
Riko looked perfect.
Later that night, she changed her lock screen and sent a copy to Kuroi.
No caption. Just:
"I'm happy today."
---
Day Six – Almost Heaven
They shared breakfast under a blooming cherry tree. The courtyard was quiet. Wind rustled the leaves overhead.
Riko chewed on grilled fish, staring at the sky.
"I think I could've liked this life," she said.
"You mean staying?" Geto asked.
"I mean… everything. You three. This place. The quiet."
Kishibe didn't speak. Gojo looked away.
"I didn't know people like you existed," Riko added. "Sorcerers who laugh. Who listen. Who don't look at me like I'm a duty."
"You're more than that," Geto said.
"I know," Riko replied. "Because you treated me like I already was."
She looked around at each of them, then smiled.
"I think I'm going to miss this. Even if I don't get to remember it."