Morning Misunderstandings - Chapter 104

Chapter 104—Morning Messes & Misunderstandings

The soft morning light crept in through the curtains, painting the apartment in muted gold. Dust motes danced lazily in the air. Somewhere outside, birds chirped. Somewhere closer—

"Ding dong. Ding dong."

The doorbell rang, cutting through the silence.

Ren groaned from where he lay, face buried in the pillow. His arm flopped over the side of the bed. He opened one eye and glanced toward the source of warmth next to him.

Mei Mei.

Still curled up. Still half-asleep. And absolutely pretending she wasn't awake.

"Ugh…" Ren mumbled, voice still hoarse with sleep. "I know you're awake. Go and check. It's probably Gojo. Tell him to wait…"

He closed his eyes again.

From beside him, a muffled voice answered.

"Ahh… I'm not dressed properly," Mei Mei muttered, her voice slurring slightly. "You go."

She was wearing a black silk nightgown—far from conservative—and had curled into a ball… right up against Ren's side.

Her legs tangled with his. Her head tucked near his shoulder.

Ren raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Well then," he said, reaching over and grabbing her ear, tugging it lightly. "Why so grumpy, huh? Did you not enjoy last night?"

Mei Mei let out a half-growl, half-grunt.

"Last night? You talk like you did something," she grumbled. "You did nothing, you liar."

Ren chuckled.

"What do you mean I did nothing?" he asked, his tone full of amusement. "Of course I didn't. Stupid. I didn't have condoms. Also, I did let you cuddle up to me. So technically, I did something."

He let go of her ear and slid his arm away from her waist, sitting up slowly. His messy hair looked even messier in the morning light.

He stretched his arms above his head, spine popping.

Behind him, Mei Mei buried half her face in the blanket.

"Teasing bastard," she muttered under her breath. "Didn't even give me a kiss… You think I care about cuddling? Sure it felt nice, but that's not the point…"

Ren stood up and glanced over his shoulder at her.

"Oh?" he said, smirking. "You're so honest in the mornings, huh?"

He bent down slightly as he pulled on his shirt, eyes gleaming.

"And by the way—I said I wanted dessert, something sweet, not something spicy, okay? That's on you for thinking I'm a pervert. Which maybe makes you the pervert instead."

He winked.

Mei Mei stared daggers at the back of his head as he walked toward the front door.

"Asshole."

But her cheeks were a little pink.

Ren rubbed his eyes as he reached the entrance and opened the door.

Standing there—tall, white-haired, and annoyingly loud—was Satoru Gojo, dressed in all black, shades on, looking like he'd just stepped out of a modeling ad for "World's Coolest Sorcerer."

He was holding a letter in one hand.

The moment the door opened, Gojo's mouth opened too.

But then—

He paused.

Eyes scanned Ren.

Disheveled hair. Half-buttoned shirt. A faint aura of… something different.

And then—Gojo's eyes widened slightly. He tilted his head.

"Wait…" Gojo thought. "His cursed energy… Is it weaker? No… not weaker. Just quieter. Almost too quiet. Did he get better at hiding it? And who… do I sense… in the bedroom…?"

And then it hit him.

"AHHHHH!!!" Gojo screeched, pointing. "REN, YOU ACTUALLY DID IT! YOU BAD BOY!!"

He flailed dramatically, nearly dropping the letter. His hands went to his face, hiding his expression like he was a schoolgirl watching a soap opera.

Ren blinked.

Then sighed.

Then he bent down and picked up the letter Gojo dropped.

He glanced at it.

Just a formal notice.

His seven-day leave was up. Time to return to Jujutsu High.

He looked up at Gojo with a straight face.

"Uh, yeah. I did it," Ren said casually. "So what, huh? That's my personal life, you know?"

Then, with a sly smile, Ren added, "Sensei, just asking… Where's your girl, huh? Don't tell me you're pushing thirty and still single."

Gojo gasped like he'd been stabbed in the chest.

"You little—!! Don't look down on me!!" He yelled, pouting. "Ren-kun, when I was your age, I was popular with girls!! Extremely popular!"

Ren raised an eyebrow.

"You mean with girls who couldn't see cursed energy?"

Gojo twitched.

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!!!"

He stomped away from the doorway like a cartoon villain, mumbling under his breath. He marched toward the lift, smacking the button over and over with his palm.

"Get dressed!" Gojo shouted without turning around. "We're leaving! Pack your things! Hurry up!"

Back inside, in the bedroom, Mei Mei was eavesdropping.

Still hiding under the covers, but very much awake now.

"Did he just call Gojo old and single…?" she thought. Then snorted. "Holy crap. It's been forever since I've seen anyone talk to Gojo like that…"

She rolled over, staring at the ceiling.

"Ren… You're really something, huh?"

Ren returned to the bedroom, grabbed his jacket, and grabbed one protein bar.

He grabbed his phone off the counter.

"Hey Mei," he said as he slid on his sneakers. "Keep updating me through text, alright? I'll be back later. Maybe."

And Mei Mei just nods her head…

And then Ren leaves…