Time had a strange way of slipping by.
Before Gojo knew it, Yuji had turned into what he teasingly called "a pregnant whale"—nine months along, round and glowing, his stomach looking like it could burst any second.
That evening, Yuji sat on the porch of their house by the oasis, tracing tiny lines on the floor with the tip of a fruit knife. The air was cool, crickets sang, and the reflection of the moon rippled softly across the water nearby. It was peaceful—beautiful, even—but Yuji looked miserable.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he sniffled, wiping them away with the back of his hand. It wasn't even a big reason. He just wanted… ice cream.
He'd been craving it all day, imagining cold vanilla melting on his tongue. Gojo, bless his hopeless soul, had tried to cheer him up with dates and roasted cactus fruit, but of course, nothing could replace ice cream—and in this isolated oasis with no freezer, no shops, and no civilization for miles, that simple craving had become unbearable.
He knew it wasn't Gojo's fault.
But knowing didn't stop the tears, or the sharp twist in his chest that came with every wave of frustration and hormones.
So now, Yuji was hiding behind the large boulder near the water's edge, muttering between sniffles, the knife forgotten beside him.
"I hate this… sniff... I hate how everything turned out." His voice wavered, soft and hoarse. "He should've just… I don't know, stopped me from getting pregnant in the first place!"
He pressed a trembling hand to his swollen belly. "And now what? How long do we have to live like this? Is this even the afterlife? No—more like hell."
He tried to laugh, but it came out as another hiccupped sob. His cheeks were blotchy, his eyes red. He looked equal parts furious and heartbroken, the perfect picture of a hormonal disaster.
That's when he heard it—the soft crunch of sand and leaves behind him.
"Dear…" Gojo's voice came quietly, full of concern. "Yuji."
Yuji froze but refused to turn around. He let out a small, muffled, "Hmph," turning his face away, lips trembling.
Gojo sighed softly and crouched beside him, the faint glow of the house lights behind them reflecting in his pale hair. For a long moment, he said nothing—just reached out carefully, brushing a strand of hair from Yuji's damp cheek.
Yuji didn't move. His chin quivered, his pout deepening, stubborn as ever.
Gojo looked at him with that helpless, fond smile and let out a long, quiet sigh, then slowly slipped his arms around Yuji's shoulders from behind, pulling him close against his chest.
"Hey… come here, my dramatic little sunshine," he murmured softly against Yuji's ear.
Yuji sniffled, squirming weakly in his embrace. "Let go, senpai… I'm mad…"
"I know," Gojo said, resting his chin gently on Yuji's shoulder. "But you're too cute when you're mad. How am I supposed to resist?"
Yuji gave a tiny sound of protest that broke halfway into another sob. His body trembled as he leaned back into Gojo's warmth.
"I just— sniff—wanted ice cream…" he mumbled, voice cracking. "Just a little bit. Vanilla… with chocolate drizzle… maybe with some crunchy bits…"
Gojo bit his lip to stop himself from smiling too much. "I know, sweetheart. You deserve all of that. And more."
He pressed a kiss to Yuji's temple, then to the wet corner of his eye, tasting salt and warmth. "How about this," he whispered, "I'll make you something else sweet, hmm? Not ice cream—but close. I'll use the coconut milk we have, mix it with dates, honey, and that weird cactus fruit you pretended not to like."
Yuji turned his face to glare at him, tears still streaming down his cheeks. "That's not ice cream, senpai…"
Gojo grinned, brushing his thumb gently along Yuji's jaw. "But it's made with love. Premium grade Gojo affection. Very limited edition."
That earned him a choked little laugh between hiccups.
"See? That's better," Gojo said softly, wiping Yuji's tears with his fingers. "Don't cry, yujikun. You'll make the baby cry too."
Yuji froze, looking down at his belly, his lips wobbling again. "I'm not crying because of that— I just… I just feel so useless!"
And before Gojo could say anything, Yuji turned around and buried his face against Gojo's chest, sobbing openly now—loud, wet sobs that came from deep inside.
Gojo held him tight, one hand stroking Yuji's hair, the other rubbing slow circles on his back. "Shh… I know. I know, love. It's okay. You're doing so well."
"I hate hormones," Yuji mumbled against his chest, voice muffled.
"I know," Gojo replied, kissing the top of his head with a soft chuckle. "They hate me too. Every time they make you cry, I lose ten years of my immortal life."
Yuji hiccuped out a small laugh through his tears.
Gojo couldn't resist—he leaned in and caught that trembling, tear-wet mouth in a gentle kiss.
Yuji gasped softly against his lips. "S-senpaiii…"
Gojo only smiled, keeping his forehead against Yuji's. "Mm… couldn't help it. You're too cute when you cry"
"Ok now now come on– let's make you that coconut dessert before you cry me a river."
Yuji gave a watery laugh. "Fine… but it better be cold."
"I'll blow on it dramatically," Gojo said solemnly. "Cryokinesis by love."
That finally made Yuji giggle, the sound soft and breathless, as Gojo stood and helped him up gently, still keeping one hand protectively on Yuji's back as they walked home under the moonlight.
"Itadori…" came that faint, distant voice again, Megumi's voice.
Yuji blinked and tilted his head back toward the sky.
Gojo followed his gaze, his brows lifting. "What is it, dear? Megumichan calling you again?"
Yuji only giggled, rubbing his belly absentmindedly. He'd heard that voice many times before — soft, fleeting, almost like a dream — but ever since his pregnancy, it had gone quiet… until now.
Gojo hummed, then gently cupped Yuji's face and covered his ears with both hands. "Shuh… shuh… Megumichan, don't bother my wife," he said playfully, leaning close.
Yuji couldn't help but laugh at that, warmth spreading through his chest.