Memories (Gojo Satoru)

20- Mixer & Karaoke (part 2)

With the karaoke session coming to an end, the group decided to indulge in some drinks and desserts to complete the evening. They settled back into the comfortable chairs in the karaoke room, ready to enjoy the treats.

The ladies placed their drink orders, and Rin, true to her nature, had a plate full of delicious desserts in front of her. Gojo couldn't help but smile at her familiar display of unabashed enjoyment, while the other guys couldn't help but be captivated by her charm.

Sara, always the one to seize an opportunity for teasing, glanced at Rin's plate and couldn't resist making a comment. "Nakamura, don't you think having all those desserts is a bit much? You don't want to spoil your figure. It's not very 'feminine' to eat so much, you know," she said with a mischievous grin.

Rin's face flushed with embarrassment as the attention turned to her. She paused, her spoon hovering over the dessert, suddenly feeling self-conscious. She put the spoon down and forced a nervous smile.

"You're probably right, Himuro. I may have gone overboard with the desserts," she replied softly, trying to hide her disappointment.

Feeling the weight of the room's gaze, Rin decided to push the desserts aside and opt for a drink instead, trying to conform to what she believed others expected of her. She wanted to maintain a positive image, even if it meant sacrificing her own enjoyment.

Gojo, who had been observing the exchange, felt a twinge of protectiveness towards Rin. He stood up, his expression turning serious as he looked down at Sara with a piercing gaze. "Himuro, you shouldn't speak like that to someone," he stated firmly, surprising everyone with his uncharacteristic seriousness.

Sara took a step back, momentarily taken aback by Gojo's unexpected reaction. She realized her teasing had crossed a line, and she quickly tried to rectify the situation. "Come on, Gojo-san, it was just a joke. I didn't mean anything by it," she said, attempting to defuse the tension.

Rin, who had been caught off guard by Gojo's defense, looked at him with wide eyes. She rarely saw him display such earnestness. Their eyes met, and Gojo offered her a reassuring smile, silently letting her know he had her back.

Feeling her appetite diminished by the embarrassment, Rin discreetly looks at the untouched desserts that she set aside before focusing on her drink instead. She took a sip, trying to mask her lingering unease. Gojo, noticing her change in demeanor, simply looked at her without saying a word.

As the group sipped their drinks and enjoyed their snacks, Miki decided to steer the conversation toward small talk to lighten the atmosphere. She turned to the guys and leaned back, then posed a playful question, "Alright, guys, if you had to go out with one of us ladies tonight, who would it be and why?"

The ladies leaned in, eager to hear the responses, while Rin's attention seemed to drift away sadly, her thoughts still preoccupied with the earlier incident. Miki, Emi, and Sara's eyes landed on Gojo, awaiting his answer with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Sara, in particular, crossed her fingers subtly, hoping Gojo would choose her.

Kazuki, one of the guys, took the lead and playfully replied, "Well, if I had to pick, I think I'd go with Miki. She's got this infectious energy and a great sense of humor. I know we'd have a blast!"

The group chuckled, and Miki blushed, expressing her gratitude for the compliment.

Next, it was Kazuki's turn to chime in. "I have to go with Sara. She's incredibly fun and adventurous. I feel like every day with her would be a new and exciting experience."

Sara grinned playfully, pleased with Kazuki's choice. "Oh, you know it would be a wild ride, Kazuki!" She then looks at Gojo, hoping he'd get jealous.

Finally, the spotlight shifted to Gojo. All eyes turned to him, except Rin's, who stirred her drink with the straw as she looked away and spaced out.

Gojo paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the group. He sensed the anticipation in the room and understood the unspoken hopes resting on his response.

A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he prepared to answer. However, as he glanced at Rin, who seemed lost in her thoughts, his expression softened, wondering if he just disclose the truth to everyone in the room or just let it be.

"Actually," Gojo began, his voice gentle yet filled with sincerity, "I think I'd leave that to your imagination.." He winked playfully.

"Come on!!" Sara sighed, a bit of desperation evident in her voice. "Just tell us.."

Gojo stands up with a smile and looks at Rin, deciding to let them be.

"Rin..."

Everyone gasped and looks at her, and she just casually looked at him, snapping out of her thoughts as he called her name.

"It's getting late. You got an early day tomorrow... Let's just go home."

Rin nods and stands up before waving to her friends and stepping out of the karaoke room.

As he closed the door behind her the moment she stepped out, he looks at her as she looked down.

"Now... let's go get you some desserts." He smiled warmly.

She widened her eyes in surprise and looks at him.

He let out a chuckle.

"What's with that look? Do you think I don't know about your sweet tooth craving at the moment?" He says playfully and leaned closer to her with a grin. "But don't worry, even if I do treat you for desserts, it'll be a secret between us..." He whispered playfully. "No one, especially Sara, would know about this."

Rin chuckled softly and lightly hit his arm, while he smiled softly upon making her smile again.

"You know, Rin.." he said on a softer tone as the two started to walk down the stairs. "You shouldn't care about what others think..." He looks at her. "You're beautiful, in your own way..." He smiled softly at her.

Rin looks at him and returned the smile.

"Thank you, Satoru..."

At that time, he was distracted by her beautiful smile, which was obviously, beautiful in his eyes, that he hadn't noticed the last step and fumbled.

Rin gasped and held his arm to help him from falling.

"You okay??" She asked, frowning in concern.

He looks at her small hands around his muscular arm before looking at her with a smile.

"I'm fine." He smiled wider and stands up, placing his hand over hers.

Rin looks at the gesture and blushed in embarassment before taking her hands away from him and looking away, while he chuckled and put his arm around the back of her neck.

"We kinda need to get used to being around each other more now that....you know..." He muttered with a sigh of relief as they exited the building.

"Why so?" She looks at him, feeling her shoulders heavy from his weight.

"Because..." He shrugged nonchalantly and casually looks away. "You know why..." He scoffed playfully. "Or you just want to hear it from me? Cheeky..." He grinned.

Rin blinks before smiling.

"Well, whatever." She chuckled softly and he knew she didn't get the message, but he let it be and smiled as he looked ahead.

"But honestly..." She breaks the silence, making him look at her again as she spoke in a softer tone. "Thank you for rescuing me from that nerve wracking mixer." She looks at him and smiled and he grinned wider.

"Well, of course. Now that I'm your fiance." He teased as he looks at her.

Rin rolled her eyes playfully and sighed before looking away.

"Oh stop it. Don't use the 'fiance' card now..." She looks at him. "It's an arrangement from pur parents and it couldn't be helped."

"Mhm..." He slightly bent his knees to get closer to her shoulders. "But you agreed to it, and even confirmed it to me yesterday that you're willing to go through with this 'arrangement'..." He muttered and smirked at her before earning a playful hit by her.

"Ow!!" He feigned being hurt as she chuckled and walked ahead of him.

"Let's go before the cafe closes for the night, hm..?" She smiled softly and looked at him.