JUJUTSU KAISEN

The Girl Who Wanted to Be Chosen

Takaya Zenin × Suguru Geto

Chapter — Please, Just One Date

The Zenin estate was particularly unpleasant that morning.

It usually was.

But today, Takaya had made the mistake of entering the main dining room five minutes late.

Her father was already seated at the head of the table, speaking to two male relatives. Her older cousin, Naoya, was leaning against the windowsill with a cup of tea in his hand.

Takaya entered quietly.

Her black hair was loosely tied behind her head, and she wore a simple cream-colored dress with long sleeves. Her walking cane tapped against the wooden floor.

“You’re late.”

She immediately stopped.

“I’m sorry, Father. My legs were hurting this morning, and I—”

“Did I ask for an explanation?”

Takaya lowered her head.

“No.”

“Then don’t give me one.”

She nodded and carefully approached her chair.

Naoya watched her with a faint smile.

“Honestly, it’s embarrassing. How old are you now? And you still need that thing to walk?”

Takaya didn’t answer.

“Look at me when I’m speaking to you.”

She slowly lifted her eyes.

Naoya laughed.

“Such a pathetic little thing.”

Her father continued eating as though nothing had happened.

“Your aunt has arranged another gathering next week. You will attend and behave appropriately. There are several families interested in potential arrangements.”

Takaya’s fingers tightened around her cane.

“Father... I was wondering if I could perhaps—”

He looked up.

“What?”

She swallowed.

“I wanted to ask whether I could spend Saturday outside.”

“Outside?”

“At the school.”

Naoya laughed.

“Why? Do you have friends there?”

Takaya’s cheeks became warm.

“I...”

Her father put down his chopsticks.

“Your responsibilities are here. You are not going to waste your time chasing boys.”

The words made her stomach tighten.

He knew.

Of course he knew.

Someone had mentioned seeing her waiting outside the school almost every afternoon.

“You’re a Zenin woman,” he continued. “You don’t get to run around like some desperate common girl.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Go to your room.”

Takaya nodded immediately.

As she turned, her father spoke again.

“And don’t embarrass this family with that ridiculous behavior.”

She didn’t answer.

She simply walked away, one painful step at a time.

By 3:45 PM, Takaya was already at Jujutsu High.

She had barely eaten lunch.

Her left leg was aching, and the muscles around her knee felt unusually weak. She had needed to stop twice during the journey.

But today was important.

She had made a decision.

She was going to ask Suguru on a date.

An actual date.

Not simply walking together after class.

Not bringing him sweets and hoping he would acknowledge her.

A date.

She had rehearsed the question approximately thirty-seven times.

Would you like to go somewhere with me on Saturday?

Too direct.

Are you perhaps free this weekend?

Too vague.

I was wondering if you’d like to spend some time together...

She covered her face with both hands.

“Oh, goodness...”

She was already blushing.

In her handbag was a little folded note.

She had written it on three different pieces of paper before deciding which handwriting looked prettiest.

She wanted to take him to a small café near the station.

She knew he probably wouldn’t like it.

But she wanted to sit across from him.

Just once.

She wanted him to ask her what she wanted to order.

She wanted to hear him laugh without Gojo making jokes in the background.

And, perhaps most embarrassingly, she wanted him to walk beside her without looking irritated.

“LOOK WHO’S HERE.”

Takaya nearly jumped.

Satoru Gojo stood at the entrance with Shoko and Suguru.

Her heart immediately began beating faster.

“Suguru!”

Geto looked towards her.

His expression changed instantly.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Gojo started laughing.

“Your favourite girl!”

“She’s not my favourite anything.”

Takaya approached them.

It took her longer than usual because her legs were particularly weak.

She smiled anyway.

“Hello, everyone.”

“Hello, Takaya!” Gojo greeted cheerfully. “Waiting for your husband again?”

“Gojo-san...”

Shoko smiled.

“You’re here early.”

Takaya nodded.

“I wanted to see Suguru.”

Geto looked at her.

“Why?”

She blinked.

“Because...”

“Because what?”

“Because I like seeing you.”

Gojo made an exaggerated noise.

“OOOOOH.”

Shoko laughed.

Suguru looked thoroughly disgusted.

“Can you not say things like that?”

Takaya’s smile faltered.

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Seriously, what’s wrong with you?”

She looked at him.

He continued.

“You act like we’re close. We’re not.”

“I know...”

“Then stop behaving like some stupid little thing that follows me everywhere.”

The words were delivered casually.

Almost bored.

As if he were commenting on the weather.

Takaya’s face became warm.

She looked down at her shoes.

Gojo was grinning.

“Jesus, Suguru. You’re brutal.”

“She’s annoying.”

They walked towards the courtyard.

Takaya followed, holding her handbag close to her chest.

She could feel the folded note inside.

She needed to ask him.

She had to.

“Suguru?”

He didn’t turn around.

“What?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“No.”

She blinked.

“But—”

“No, Takaya.”

Gojo laughed.

“At least let her finish, Suguru.”

Geto stopped walking and looked at her.

“Fine. What?”

Takaya swallowed.

Her fingers found the folded note.

“Would you...”

She hesitated.

Her voice was very quiet.

“Would you like to go on a date with me?”

Silence.

For approximately two seconds, nobody said anything.

Then Gojo burst out laughing.

“NO WAY.”

Shoko covered her mouth.

Takaya’s cheeks were burning.

She looked at Suguru.

He was staring at her.

Not smiling.

Not flattered.

Just staring.

“A date?”

She nodded.

“Yes...”

He let out a short laugh.

“With you?”

Her smile became uncertain.

“Yes.”

“Why would I do that?”

She immediately looked down.

“I thought maybe we could have something to eat, or perhaps visit—”

“Takaya, I’m not interested in you.”

Her fingers went still.

“I know, but I thought—”

“Then why are you asking?”

She couldn’t answer.

Suguru shook his head.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Gojo was still laughing.

“She’s really serious, too!”

“Obviously,” Suguru replied. “That’s the problem.”

He looked at Takaya again.

“Listen carefully, stupid little thing. I don’t want to go on a date with you. I don’t want to walk around with you. I don’t want your presents. And I certainly don’t want you waiting for me every afternoon.”

Takaya’s eyes were beginning to sting.

She tried to smile.

It was an awful attempt.

“Oh.”

“Understand?”

A small nod.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He turned around.

“Come on, Satoru.”

Gojo followed him, still grinning.

“You’re going to give that girl a heart attack one day.”

“Not my responsibility.”

Shoko remained behind for a moment.

She looked at Takaya.

“Maybe you should go home today.”

Takaya nodded.

“Okay, Shoko-san.”

For a while, Takaya didn’t move.

She stood in the courtyard, holding her cane with both hands.

The little note was still in her handbag.

She slowly took it out.

The paper was slightly crumpled from how tightly she had been holding it.

She unfolded it.

Dear Suguru,

Would you perhaps like to go somewhere with me this Saturday? I’d really love to spend some time with you.

Takaya.

She read it twice.

Then she folded it again.

Very carefully.

She didn’t throw it away.

She couldn’t.

At 6:20 PM, Takaya finally arrived home.

She was exhausted.

Her legs were trembling so badly that she had to hold onto the corridor wall.

A servant passed her.

“Miss Takaya, your father has been asking for you.”

Her stomach dropped.

“Is he upset?”

The servant looked uncomfortable.

“I would recommend going to his office immediately.”

Takaya swallowed.

“Thank you.”

She knocked softly.

“Come in.”

Her father was sitting behind his desk.

On the table was a small photograph.

Takaya recognized it immediately.

It was a photograph of her standing outside Jujutsu High.

Waiting.

Her father looked at her.

“Care to explain?”

Takaya’s throat tightened.

“I...”

“Do you think this is appropriate behavior?”

“No, Father.”

“You’ve been embarrassing yourself for months.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re a Zenin. You don’t chase men.”

He stood up.

“Especially men who aren’t interested in you.”

Takaya stared at the floor.

Her father grabbed her upper arm.

“You will stop this ridiculous behavior.”

It hurt.

She didn’t pull away.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Look at me.”

She did.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

He released her with a dismissive shove.

“Go upstairs. And don’t let me hear about this again.”

Takaya stumbled slightly as she stepped backwards.

She caught herself with her cane.

“Goodnight, Father.”

He didn’t respond.

That night, Takaya sat on the edge of her bed.

Her room was small compared to the rooms belonging to the male members of the family.

There was a narrow bed, a wooden wardrobe, a little desk, and a window overlooking the estate gardens.

She placed her handbag on the desk.

Then she took out the folded note.

She stared at it.

For a long time.

Her eyes filled with tears.

She didn’t understand why she couldn’t simply stop liking him.

Suguru was mean.

He was impatient.

He made her feel stupid.

Sometimes he looked at her as though her existence was physically exhausting.

But when she thought about him, she remembered his long black hair, his voice, and the few rare moments when he had spoken to her without immediately telling her to leave.

She wanted to be someone he looked forward to seeing.

She wanted to be someone he chose.

Just once.

Takaya carefully placed the note inside the drawer of her bedside table.

Then she lay down.

Her legs were throbbing.

Her arm hurt where her father had grabbed her.

And tomorrow, she would probably have to attend another family gathering.

But she was already thinking about Suguru.

Maybe she should bring him something different.

Perhaps he didn’t like sweet things.

Perhaps she should try coffee.

Perhaps—

She closed her eyes.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“...I just wanted one date.”

And in the morning, the Zenin estate would wake up as usual.

The men would give orders.

The women would obey.

And Takaya would once again be reminded that wanting something for herself was considered an inconvenience.