Chapter Text
Part 1:Magnificent
March 30th 2024
If Satoru wanted to submit his final project on time, he had to be out the door 10 minutes ago.
“I’m late, I’m late, I AM SO LATE!” Satoru wails too his usually amazing roommates, but right now are his worst enemies, who seem very content watching his downfall play out in real time.
Shoko sighs from where she is lying on the couch, her legs draped over Suguru’s legs where he sits contently next to her sipping his morning coffee. “Satoru, sweetie, I hate to break it to you but this may very well be the consequences of your own actions.” Suguru snickers quietly at that comment and Satoru shoots him a death glare that he doesn’t pay any mind too.
Okay, so in hindsight, Satoru realises starting and finishing the report the night before he had to hand it in may have not been the best idea, but who even cares about the report when the project is what everyone will be looking at anyway?
“Why do my two dearest friends despise me so?” Satoru states dramatically, still frantically running around the apartment grabbing his things. “Seriously,” Satoru continues, “you guys are some best friends, you let me sleep in on the submission day!” Satoru yells from his room where he shoves his laptop and the freshly printed report into his bag. He hears both Shoko and Suguru groan in protest at him as he sprints towards his desk to grab his phone.
“Satoru i clearly remember Shoko and i having to forcefully yank you out of bed 15 minutes ago to avoid this exact situation. Now stop whining and get going!” Suguru yells back.
Satoru runs towards the door grabbing his shoes, shoving them on his feet and opens the door ready to sprint down the stairs. “Wait!” Suguru is suddenly behind him pulling him back by his collar. “Here, take this.” He says softly shoving a banana in his hands and pushing him out the door before he can say anything.
Satoru doesn’t even have time to mentally process the absolutely domestic action that just occurred between him and his best friend because if he wanted to get to the station in 10 minutes for his train he would have to absolutely book it. Checking the time on his phone it reads 9:30. Shit. The train leaves in five minutes and won’t get to school well after 10:00. Satoru bursts out the front door of his building deciding that he needed to hail a taxi if he had a chance of making it.
Satoru runs up and down the street looking for any sign of an available taxi when he finally spots one. My luck should genuinely be studied. Satoru decides while approaching the taxi, then suddenly a tall man appears right by the taxi, very obviously getting in. My bad luck should genuinely be studied.
Satoru can’t miss this deadline. He has worked way too hard for it all to be taken away by some dude stealing his taxi. This resolution is what leads to Satoru on the ground in front of this complete stranger begging for him to let him use the taxi.
The stranger sighs loudly. It’s over. Satoru thinks. My future career, everything I have ever worked for. It’s all- Satoru is struck from his thoughts when the stranger begins to speak. “What direction are you going in?” “Oh, um to the Tokyo Metropolitan University.” The stranger nods and hops into the taxi. Is he letting me come with him? “Well are you coming?” The stranger asked answering Satoru’s question. Satoru scrambles up from the floor and slides into the taxi babbling thank you’s to the stranger.
Satoru and the stranger sit in silence, and Satoru decides to eat the banana that Suguru gave him before he left to pass the time. When he finishes the banana Satoru shoves the peel in the front zipper of his bag so the report doesn’t get ruined.
Satoru checks his phone again. 9:45. Okay, this is fine. Satoru tells himself. He has 15 minutes. If the traffic is on his side today he will make it to the university in 10 minutes, giving him five minutes to submit his final paper.
🕷️
The traffic was indeed on Satoru’s side today. He makes it to the university at 10:54. After profusely thanking the stranger again and handing the driver the cash he bolts out of the taxi towards the science building.
Bursting through the doors of his lecture classroom at exactly 10:00am, his professor is sitting at his desk as if waiting for his arrival.
“Gojo, running a bit late today are we?” Gojo doesn’t respond back immediately, catching his breath while pulling the report out of his bag and placing it on the desk. “I made it though professor.” Satoru states triumphantly. Because damn, did he deserve a round of applause. Okay maybe he couldn’t have made it here without his roommates but he would never admit that out loud. “So you did.” His professor agree’s while picking up his report and flicking through it. “Well, it looks like everything is here, now we will see if it is as good as your practical component.” Satoru nods and walks out of the room and slumps against a nearby wall. He sighs, before pulling out his phone, checking his schedule. He has two lectures in the next couple of hours. Satoru pockets his phone and decides to go home. Today was stressful enough as it is, he really doesn’t have the energy to sit through two lectures.
He feels a vibration in his pocket as he leaves the science building.
Suguruuu
Hey Satoru, did you submit on time?
Sho Sho
yeah dummy u better have made it there
Satoru smiles at the group chat before typing out a quick response.
Me
ofc I did Im the best after all
Sho Sho
stfu man u literally would be lost without us
Suguruuu
I’m glad you got there on time, Satoru. But yeah, Shoko’s right.
Sho Sho
see even ur best friend is on my side
Me
wtvr, drinks tn?
Sho Sho
um is that even a question
Suguruuu
The best suggestion you’ve had all day.
🕷️
The bar the trio frequents is especially busy tonight with the end of the semester finally here. Satoru, Suguru and Shoko are seated in their usual booth with their respective drinks while they chat loudly over the noise.
“Shoko, you definitely wouldn’t be able to surf.” Satoru deadpans after her strong declaration that she would be a pro at surfing.
Scoffing, Shoko takes a sip of her drink before nudging Suguru to back her up.
“He won’t take your side, will you Suguru?” Satoru smiles brightly at him, but communicates with his eyes that he better back him up.
Suguru sighs before also taking a long sip of his drink. “I’m not getting involved in this argument.” Satoru rolls his eyes while Shoko huffs.
“You know, i could see Suguru falling off his board the second he tries to ride a wave.” Satoru says to Shoko with a grin plastered on his face. Shoko letss out a laugh before nodding at Satoru. “I could totally see that.”
It’s Suguru’s turn to roll his eyes at his two roommates nonsense. Shoko and Satoru continue debating whether they would be good or bad at various activities, and eventually Suguru joins in.
“Mountain climbing?”
“Absolutely not.” Shoko says while Suguru shakes his head.
“Competitive running?”
Suguru lets out a laugh while Shoko puts her thumb down. “Dude, i’ve seen you get tired after vacuuming.” He’s not completely wrong, after all the running he did this morning he still feels worn out.
Satoru sighs, trying to think of something else.
“Hmm, soccer?”
“No.” Both his friends say in unison.
“Man you guys have absolutely no faith in my abilities.”
“Sorry dude, it’s just the nerd in you.” Shoko states solemnly placing a hand on his shoulder.
Satoru huffs, eliciting more laughs from Suguru and Shoko. “Hey I’m gonna go get another drink, you guys want anything?” Satoru shakes his head and Suguru says no thank you and Shoko wanders off towards the bar leaving Satoru and Suguru alone for the first time all day.
Suguru suddenly looks at Satoru, a question very obviously forming in his mind. “Spit it out, man.” Satoru says after a moment. Suguru looks away as if embarrassed before letting out a sigh. “When do you find out about the internship?” That’s not at all the direction Satoru thought Suguru’s question was about to go in considering how nervous he is. Satoru just shrugs. “I guess when my final project has been looked over, if it’s good enough someone will get in contact with me. But anyways man, aren’t we here to forget about all that?” Suguru looks like he wants to say something more but he doesn’t and Satoru doesn’t press.
Shoko comes back after a moment, a new drink in front of her when she suddenly says she has an announcement to make. “Okay so as you both know, things have been getting pretty serious with Iori, and we’ve decided that we want to move in together.” Satoru and Suguru look at each other and then back at Shoko who is looking at them expectantly. “No ‘Congrats Shoko, I’m so happy for you’,” Suguru immediately hugs Shoko from where he sits next to her. “That’s awesome Shoko, seriously.”
“Yeah Sho, I’m so happy for you guys, I mean obviously I don’t understand your taste in women at all but-“ Satoru is cut off with a kick to his shin from Shoko.
“Shoko! That was mean!” Satoru whines while Shoko rolls her eyes.
“So when do you move out?” Suguru speaks up into the silence. Shoko pauses, looking a little bit guilty. “Uh… two weeks.” Satoru gasps in shock. “Shoko! Are you that desperate to get away from your best friends? Do you hate us that much?” He says with a hand over his heart.
“No you idiot,” Shoko starts, “I just don’t see any point in waiting. We really love each other.” Suguru nods and Satoru keeps up the dramatic act. And no, it’s not because he is nervous to live with Suguru. Just them. Alone. Sure, they are best friends and it wouldn’t be weird, but something Satoru can’t quite pinpoint stirs in his chest. “What about our rent Shoko? That’s very irresponsible leaving your roommates to deal with that.” Shoko turns towards him, deadpan expression clear across her features. “Satoru, your extremely rich parents literally bought our apartment. Anyway, it’s sounding a little bit like you’re gonna miss me.” Her expression changes to a smirk. “Uh no, why would I miss you Shoko?” Satoru retorts with no real meaning behind those words. Shoko just laughs and taps his shoulder softly, a smile across her face now. “Hey, I’ll miss you too. Both of you,” she says turning towards Suguru who smiles back at her.
“Okay, this conversation is officially too sad, and I am not drunk enough. Shots everyone?” Shoko lets out a loud cheer while Suguru nods in approval. “I’ll get the drinks, but they’re all going on your tab Satoru.” Satoru just passes her his card and waves her off.
Suguru and Satoru are alone again and Satoru doesn’t understand why he feels so awkward. This is Suguru we’re talking about. His best friend of 3 years. “Satoru?” Satoru looks up at his name being said to see Suguru looking at him with a concerned expression. “You good? You were kind of zoned out there.” Am I good? I don’t know what’s wrong with me right now. Maybe it’s the stress of submitting his finals project. Yeah. It’s definitely that. “Yeah dude, sorry, I’m good. What were you saying?” Suguru was about to continue when Shoko comes back to the table piling shots down in front of them. “Let’s get wasted!” Satoru and Suguru laugh as Shoko shoves a shot into each of their hands.
“Cheers!” Shoko hold out her glass to the middle of the table and Suguru and Satoru follow in turn clanking their glasses together.
“Cheers!”