It was a bright, humid Saturday morning.
The high school uniform was long gone, replaced by simple summer clothes that offered little protection against the growing nervousness in his chest.
Wakana Gojo had just arrived in front of Marin Kitagawa's front door at the apartment complex.
Today was the day they had planned prior: a break for him and a trip to her home to watch the shonen anime, Jujutsu Kaisen, and potentially cement their next joint cosplay.
Wakana felt a little overwhelmed going to a girl's house, especially when she was home alone.
The sheer thought of being in her private space made his throat dry.
He took a moment, leaning against the wall, to gather his breath and calm his pounding heart.
Feeling more composed, he finally pressed the doorbell.
Immediately, he heard Marin's voice from behind the door, followed by the heavy thud of her hurried footsteps.
"Coming~! Wait one sec!"
Inside her home, Marin had been running around her living room, frantically trying to set up the perfect atmosphere.
She gave the room one quick, final glance.
The couch cushions were perfectly plumped, the table was spotless, and the floor was actually clean.
She gave a satisfied nod at the temporary, pristine state of her living room and rushed up to the front door.
Just like Wakana, she felt nervous about inviting a boy to her house for the first time while she was alone.
She paused, took a deep, steadying breath, and then quickly opened the door.
For a brief, suspended moment, both of them just stared at each other.
Wakana, dressed in a simple, light gray t-shirt and dark shorts, looked handsome and relaxed.
Marin, in oversized pajama shorts and a loose graphic tee, looked comfortable and stunningly approachable.
Marin quickly recovered. "Welcome to my house, Gojo-kun, come in!" She went to the side and opened the way with a welcoming smile.
Wakana smiled back, his hand rising to hold up a thick, crinkly paper bag. "I brought snacks and drinks."
This immediately made Marin's eyes shine, all initial nervousness instantly forgotten in favor of the delicious prospect of junk food.
"Oh, you shouldn't have~!" Despite her words, her actions and expression said otherwise. "Come in quickly!"
With a nod, he stepped inside and took his shoes off at the entrance. "Pardon my intrusion."
Marin led him straight into the living room, which was dominated by a large, comfortable L-shaped couch and a low coffee table, all facing a sizable TV screen.
Wakana immediately placed the paper bag on the table, carefully removing an array of chips, sodas, and various chocolate bars, setting them all up neatly.
Meanwhile, Marin set the TV up, taking the CDs for today's entertainment.
The first volume of Jujutsu Kaisen, as she loaded the first disc.
With everything prepped, the two of them settled side by side on the L-shaped couch.
The cushions were soft, and despite the wide space, they were seated closer than either of them would normally sit with a friend.
"Alright, let's get this party started!" Marin cheered, punching the play button on the remote with triumphant energy.
"Mhm." Wakana gave a quick nod, eyes instantly focused on the screen, his mind already preparing to analyze the character designs and potential materials needed for future projects.
The apartment lights dimmed slightly as the first episode's chaotic, driving opening credits began.
The opening theme blared through the TV speakers, full of driving energy and quick, flashy character introductions.
Wakana was immediately drawn in by the crisp animation and the dynamic character designs.
He felt a rare sense of peace, his mind entirely focused on consumption rather than creation, or so he thought.
They watched the first episode in silence.
Marin was completely absorbed, occasionally bouncing her feet up excitedly, while Wakana maintained a calm posture, though his eyes darted around the screen, noting things like the fit of the school uniforms and the complexity of the curse designs.
Then, about halfway through the episode, the key character exploded onto the screen.
Marin had been waiting for this moment.
She discreetly angled her body toward Wakana, watching his face with an anticipation that made her heart flutter.
On the screen, a powerful figure materialized: Satoru Gojo.
He was tall and effortlessly striking, with sharp features partially obscured by a black blindfold and white hair that stood up as if he were a Super Saiyan.
His confidence radiated through the animation.
He was introduced as the modern age's strongest sorcerer.
Wakana's gaze was instantly fixed.
He wasn't just analyzing the uniform anymore; he was captivated by the sheer design presence.
The character was stylish, dynamic, and undeniably cool.
The perfect execution and aura that surpassed even the protagonist itself.
It took Wakana a beat to register the name that flashed beneath the character's dynamic pose: Satoru Gojo.
He blinked, a sense of astonishment settling over him.
'Gojo?'
He had spent his whole life associating that name with the quiet, domestic world of Hina dolls.
To see it attached to a towering, powerful, and utterly fashionable figure felt a little bizarre.
He quickly glanced at Marin, who had noticed his reaction and was trying to suppress a giggle, her pink eyes sparkling with mischievous delight.
"See, Gojo-kun!" she whispered, leaning closer. "I told you! He's literally got the same surname as you! And he's, like, the strongest character in the series!"
Wakana turned back to the screen, as a smile of amazement formed on his face.
"Ah. Yes, I saw that," he said, shaking his head slightly in wonder. "It's... quite a coincidence. He's incredibly well-designed."
"A coincidence? No way! It's fate! It's research!" Marin poked his arm gently with her finger, her energy surging now that the ice was broken. "Now you have to cosplay him with me! It's perfect! You're already tall, and you already have the same last name! We can go as Gojo and one of the girls!"
Marin let the episode run for a few more minutes, enough time for Gojo Satoru to showcase his absurd power and laid-back attitude.
Then, she snatched the remote and paused the screen again, hitting the mute button this time.
"Okay, okay, I've got it," she declared, her face glowing with an intense, focused look that Wakana recognized as her 'cosplay inspiration mode.' "You're Gojo-sensei, obviously. The uniform is great, but I think for the first big debut, we should do something different. We should do his past arc."
Wakana tilted his head, curious. "Past arc? I'm sorry, I just started watching. Does that mean a younger version of him?"
"Exactly! But I won't be Shoko, and I won't be Geto—" She shuddered dramatically. "Too much angst. I want to be Riko Amanai."
Wakana's brow furrowed.
The name meant nothing to him. "Riko Amanai? I haven't seen that character yet. Who is she?"
Marin's expression softened, taking on a rare, reflective seriousness. "She's... well, she's amazing. She's from the flashback arc, the Hidden Inventory arc. She was a friend to Gojo and Geto back when they were still students. The one he was supposed to protect, but..."
Marin trailed off, giving a small, sad shake of her head. "She died before the main story even started. It's a huge tragedy that basically sets up everything that happens later in the series."
Wakana felt a flicker of surprise at the sudden dark turn.
He looked at Marin beside him, then back at the paused image of the powerful Gojo Satoru.
He hadn't expected her to want to cosplay a character with such a tragic background.
"A character from a flashback who... dies," Wakana murmured, processing the emotional weight of the choice. "That sounds like an interesting character to embody, Kitagawa-san. What kind of outfit does she wear?"
Marin immediately brightened, the melancholy gone. "Oh, her outfits are super cute! She wears this adorable Japanese school uniform! She also has a simple white dress sometimes. It's retro and stylish, not really hard to make. I think."
Wakana felt his heart quicken with interest.
"Riko Amanai," he repeated, reaching for his phone to discreetly search the name and visualize the design. "This looks pretty good. The design of her uniform does look fairly easy to make."
Marin clapped her hands, ecstatic. "Yes! Okay! We'll watch the rest of the episodes, but my heart is set! Gojo-kun, our next project will be Satoru Gojo and Riko Amanai!"
Wakana smiled back, nodding. "Got it. Let's continue watching then."
Marin cheered, leaning close to press the 'play' button.
The episode resumed, and the two of them settled back into the cozy couch, Marin Kitagawa finally targeting the snacks brought by the boy, eating as if there was no tomorrow.