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Beers in hand, Utahime settled into her seat with a hum of content. Baseball season was in full swing, her university’s team had a ton of heavy hitters this year and she’d managed to finally make a friend with someone who enjoyed going to them as much as she did.
Well, sort of.
Shoko really only went to see her boyfriend, Geto Suguru play. But in truth, it didn’t matter, Utahime wasn’t picky when it came to baseball game companionship and Shoko was genuinely fun to be around.
The two had a few months back when they’d taken the same calculus class. They’d fallen into a quick, fun friendship for which Utahime was grateful. It wasn’t necessarily that Utahime was shy, but she knew she was the type to put education first and not everyone could understand that. Shoko was different. She was at the top of all her classes and not afraid to say no to plans if they interfered with her studies.
“Hey! Sorry I’m late. My car wouldn’t start, Suguru had come drive back and get me.” Shoko plopped down beside her senior. “Thanks for getting us seats by the dugout.”
Utahime scoffed, “No worries! I literally just sat down. Here.” She handed Shoko her beer. “I figured we could run and grab popcorn or hotdogs a little later in the game.”
Shoko smiled as she accepted her beer. “That works for me.” She took a quick sip. “God, that’s disgusting. I don’t know how you drink this shit, Uta.”
“It’s good! You just have poor taste.” Utahime watched as Shoko began to pull a pack of cigarettes from her purse. “Not to mention, those death sticks you inhale definitely don’t help your taste buds.”
Shoko faked a look of shock and hurt. “I’ll have you know, these death sticks make things taste better.” Her gaze moved from Utahime to the field, “Ah! There they are.”
Utahime turned as well, watching as the Jujutsu Tech team took to the field. The energy was up, other fans shouting out their excitement as the team’s anthem played. Utahime joined in, jumping to her feet with the rest of the crowd as they belted along with the song. Shoko stood too, but she was too busy taking pictures of Geto in uniform to worry about singing.
As the song ended and the other team entered, the crowd sat and Utahime took a large gulp of her beer. She chewed on her bottom lip, watching as her team took their defensive positions. She’d studied the team every year. Baseball was her favorite game and knowing the stats of every player made it more enjoyable. .Elbows on her knees, she scanned the faces of each member, noting they were in their usual spots. Her eyebrows scrunched together though as she noticed the empty pitcher’s mound. Where was-
The thought was interrupted as the answer erupted onto the field, hand raised and grinning from ear to ear. Utahime’s lips pursed as the crowd went wild around her again.
Satoru Gojo was the team’s pride and joy, the fan favorite, and Utahime least favorite person in the entire world. She’d only known him a day less than she’d known Shoko but already she knew there would never be another living person that grated on her nerves like he did.
His sleeves were rolled up to show off the hard lines of his arms – a look completely against regulation, mind you. He wore a pair of black sunglasses, a move almost entirely unseen in pitchers, but he lifted them as he stepped onto the mound and surveyed the roaring crowd. Utahime knew he didn’t need to, that his eye sight was so ridiculously perfect that he could find what he was looking for even while wearing the shades, but he did it for one reason: to make sure Utahime knew he was looking at her.
Their eyes met and somehow his smile only brightened the blue of his eyes. He pointed at her, winked and then, he blew her a kiss. For the last six games, Gojo started it off doing exactly that. Finding Utahime in the stands and completely embarrassing her in front of the entirety of their school. Gojo thought it was hilarious, but the hateful looks Utahime received made her think they were anything but.
Head down, Utahime did her best to pretend she hadn’t seen him, burying her face down into her face.
Beside her, Shoko all but vibrated the seat with her laughter. “Girl, he knows you saw. Just flip him off.” She nudged Utahime with her shoulder.
“Shut up, Shoko. You know I’d get booed out of here if I did that!”
Utahime’s response only sent Shoko into another fit of giggles.
“Play ball!”
The game started up and thankfully, all attention went to it rather than Utahime. She watched carefully, still thoroughly loving the game despite Gojo’s tireless attempts at ruining her good time.
Utahime may hate him, but she was also the first to discuss how talented he was. His ERA was already like that of a pro and Utahime was certain by the time he finished college he’d be outdoing even them. His arms were like canons, throwing with such precision and speed that most batters said they just swung wildly in hopes to hit.
It was no wonder than even in his freshman year Gojo was doing interviews and being scouted. He reeked with talent. Ignoring him wasn’t only stupid, it was impossible.
The first half inning was over before it started thanks to Gojo’s stellar arm. As Jujutsu Tech’s players headed to the dugout, Gojo and Geto both looked up at the girls, lifting their arms to wave in greeting. Shoko returned it but Utahime kept her arms firmly at her sides, earning a deep pout from Gojo.
“Hime!” He called, entering the dugout and leaning against the bars that separated it from the seats. “Hime! Hime!”
Her eye twitched as she leaned around Shoko to glare daggers at him, “What?” She hissed.
“Just wanted to say you’re looking exceptionally beautiful today.” His eyes raked her form without an ounce of shame. He propped one elbow on the gate and sighed dreamily at her. “I thought you were gonna wear a skirt for me this time?”
“Get over here, Gojo!” Couch Yaga’s voice boomed from behind the player, causing each of them to jump.
Gojo glanced over his shoulder then quickly back to Utahime, “I’ve got something coming for you, Hime.” With that, he departed back into the dugout with the rest of the team.
“What do you think he got you?” Shoko asked, finishing off her beer.
Utahime shook her head, exhaling harshly. “God, who knows. Something incredibly stupid, I’m sure.”
Shoko laughed softly, “Yeah, most likely.” Her eyes lit up as she caught sight of Geto exiting the dugout, bat in hand. “Oh! God, I love how that ass looks in uniform.” She was quick to hop up, phone already out to snap some pics. Utahime smiled at the sight. Shoko and Geto really were perfect together and Utahime loved getting to see it first-hand. They’d been dating since their early teens and from Utahime had seen, there was nothing but genuine love for each other.
“Psst!”
Her smile fell.
“Psst, Hime!”
She gritted her teeth and turned. “Stop distracting me!”
Gojo was back, arms thrown over the bars between them. “I don’t like when you watch Geto.”
Utahime sputtered, “What!? I watch everyone!”
“I don’t like it. Only watch me,” he pouted. “I’m gonna hit a homerun for you tonight.”
Arms crossed over her chest, Utahime looked away from him and back to the field where Geto gave a few practice swings before stepping up to home plate. “I don’t care.” Shoko was leaning forward, zooming in on the outline of Geto’s ass.
“How many?”
She took a quick peek at him. “How many what?”
“Homeruns.”
“What?” She faced him again, even more aggravated. “Use a full sentence, Gojo.”
He was beaming. “How many homeruns do I have to get tonight for you to go on a date with me?”
Her face went red and she turned back to the field, adamant on not looking at him again. “You’re an idiot.”
“I’m serious!” He shook the bars, “Give me a number.”
She narrowed her eyes, still refusing to meet his gaze. “Fine. Five homeruns in this game or one grand slam with Geto on third.”
There was a sharp laugh and the sound of Gojo’s feet hitting the ground. “Done!”
Geto’s bat connected with the first pitch out, sending the ball flying into the outfield as Utahime tried to steady her breathing. Gojo’s record for homeruns in a game was three and he’d never successfully pulled off a grand slam that Utahime knew of. There was no way she was going on that date with him.
Two and a half hours had passed since Utahime little agreement with Gojo and she could watch in horror as he stepped up to home with the bases loaded. He still wore his sunglasses, but a hat with the team’s emblem now sat atop his head, keeping his white messy hair out of his eyes.
He hadn’t so much as looked her way as he’d exited the dugout and stretched before taking his mark. Bent forward slightly, the bat was held in perfect position above his head, moving in gentle circles as Gojo readied himself for the pitch. Depsite the pressure, there was no tension in his shoulders.
The game had been a hard one with the two teams going toe to toe when it came to scoring runs. But it didn’t matter now. Gojo just had to get Geto off of third base to home and they’d break the tie and win the game.
“I’ve never seen Gojo look this serious,” Shoko muttered, shoving a handful of popcorn into her mouth. “You’d think he has money riding on this game or something.”
“Yeah,” Utahime whispered, “Or something.” She shot back the rest of her beer as the pitch went out.
Gojo didn’t swing.
“Strike one!”
Utahime’s eyes widened, leaning forward in her seat. “What the hell was that?” She grumbled, eyebrows pinching together. “That was a perfect pitch, Gojo knew that!”
The catcher sent the ball back and Gojo readied himself again, digging his back foot into the dirt. The second pitch went out.
“Strike two!”
Head in her hands, Utahime took a few deep breaths. He was doing this on purpose! Gojo knew how into the game she got, especially after she’d been drinking. This was life or death for her at this point and that bastard knew it!
She stood up and lunged towards the gates, “Dammit Gojo!” She screamed, “Swing!”
He shot her a look over his shoulder, white teeth flashing as he lifted the sunglasses from his face and tossed them aside. Without a word, he looked back to the pitcher.
When Gojo swung, he put his entire body into it, back arching as the bat and ball connected. It sounded like a crack of thunder, Gojo watching the ball soar passed the outfields and out of reach. There was only a beat of silence.
“Fuck yeah!” Utahime screamed before she could help herself, fist thrown in the air as everyone else around cheered as well. The stadium was one massive roar as Geto’s foot connected with home plate, following quickly by Nanami Kento and Atsuya Kusakabe. At the rear was Gojo, jogging with no real rush as he soaked in the cheering from his fans.
He touched home and the cheers only got louder, his teammates overtaking him on the field in a massive hug. Utahime could only smile at the sight as Shoko whooped in excitement. “That’s my boys!” She cried.
Just when Utahime thought things were beginning to calm, she found herself staring at a massive stuffed bear rather than the field. Not just any stuffed bear, but Juju the Bear, Jujutsu Tech’s mascot. “I have this for a Miss Utahime Iori.”
Utahime had to look around the stuffed animal to find a dark headed boy reading from a card. “I’m her,” she replied, slowly reaching out take the bear in her arms.
“It’s from Satoru Gojo. The card says, ‘Being without you is un-bear-able.’”
Face on fire, Utahime accepted the card and watched as the boy ran off into the stands, leaving her holding a stuffed animal almost as big as her.
Shoko’s laughter brought Utahime out of her thoughts. “He really is something else, isn’t he?”
“He’s fucking un-bear-able,” she grunted, hugging the bear to her chest. The soft brown fur tickled her nose and she caught Gojo’s gaze as he untangled himself from the team’s embrace. Despite herself, she smiled. Maybe a date with him wouldn’t be completely awful.
It took almost another hour before the stadium cleared and Geto met up with Shoko and Utahime at the exit. He’d freshly showered with his hand braided down his back as he took Shoko into his arms and kissed her.
“Thanks for coming.”
Shoko rolled her eyes, “Don’t I always?”
“I certainly make sure of it,” Geto teased.
“Ew, come on, guys. I’m right here.” Utahime pulled a face at the two of them. They pull apart with pink tinted cheeks.
“Sorry Iori,” Geto grinned, tucking Shoko under his arm. “So, what are you and the bear’s plans for the night?”
The weight of an arm landed on her shoulder and Utahime yelped as she found herself tugged into an embrace. “Miss Iori here is accompanying me on a date. Isn’t that right?” Gojo’s breath was hot on her ear, a bead of water running down her back from his still wet hair.
“Hmm, maybe.” She slipped out from under his arm.
Gojo balked, “What? Hime, I got the grand slam like you said! With Geto on third!” He tugged at the ponytail atop her head. “You promised!”
She swatted at him, shoving the bear into his arms. “True. I guess I can’t get out of it then, I am a woman of my word. But I get to pick the place and the minute I say I want to go home, I’m going home.” She turned on her heel then, heading towards the parking lot with a sure stride.
Gojo shoved the bear into Shoko’s arms, “Don’t wait up for me, Geto.” With that, he took off after Utahime at a sprint. “What about that new American burger place that just opened up?” He suggested.
“No, I want wings. And beer.”
Geto took the bear from Shoko, tucking it up under his arm to hold. “How long you think this lasts?” He asked, watching his best friend trail after Utahime like a new puppy.
“Oh, they’re both already in love.” Shoko lit up a cigarette and wiggled her fingers at Geto. His interlocked their hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Take me back to your dorm, I got a new toy I want to try.”
Geto’s eyebrow lifted, “Oh yeah?”
She shot him a wink. “Yeah.”