Sana stood in the corner of Satoru's room, watching the playful banter between her new friends as they gathered around the kitchen. Suguru was in charge of chopping vegetables, while Satoru dramatically narrated each step like it was some grand culinary adventure. Shoko, now much more relaxed, stood by the stove, shaking her head in amusement.
But Sana's thoughts were still drifting back to the night before, to the conversation with Suguru. There was a weight on her chest, the remnants of Akagi's words still stinging her heart. No matter how much she tried to distract herself, it lingered. She didn't want to feel like this anymore. Not here, not now, not when she had people who genuinely cared for her.
"Hey, Sana, you good?" Suguru called out, noticing her standing a little distant from the group.
She blinked and nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just lost in thought."
Satoru raised an eyebrow, looking over from where he was flipping pancakes. "Lost in thought? You've only been here a day, and you're already having a life crisis. Impressive."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped. "It's nothing, really."
Suguru wasn't convinced. He glanced at her and then at Satoru, who was now grinning like a cat who knew far more than he let on. "She's thinking about that idiot from last night, huh?"
The lightheartedness in the room faltered for a moment. Sana froze, her smile slipping as she cast her gaze downward. The last thing she wanted was to drag her problems into this space. "Suguru…"
"I'm just saying," he continued, softer now, "You don't have to carry that all by yourself anymore. You're allowed to let it go."
The silence hung in the air, thick with emotions no one wanted to fully address. Satoru stayed quiet, his eyes briefly flicking to Suguru and then back to Sana, as if he were considering what to say next.
But before anyone could break the tension, Shoko clapped her hands loudly, startling everyone. "Alright, enough of the sad vibes. We're making pancakes, not attending a funeral. Sana, come help me before Suguru ruins breakfast."
Sana appreciated Shoko's tact, her soft smile returning as she moved over to the stove. "Thanks, Shoko."
"No problem. Also, don't listen to Suguru, he's just overly dramatic," Shoko said, giving Suguru a playful side-eye.
Suguru held his hands up in mock defense. "What? I'm trying to be supportive!"
"Uh-huh," Shoko quipped, flipping a pancake with ease. "Anyway, Sana, this is your first real breakfast with us, so it's gotta be special."
"Special?" Sana tilted her head, curious. "What do you mean by that?"
Satoru appeared at her side, sliding the pancake off his spatula with an exaggerated flourish. "Oh, you'll see. Stick around long enough, and you'll learn the true chaos of Jujutsu High breakfasts."
Suguru chuckled, shaking his head. "Especially when Satoru's involved."
Sana found herself laughing too, the warmth of the room slowly easing the ache in her chest. This was new, this camaraderie, this sense of being part of something bigger. She wasn't sure how long it would last or if she could ever truly forget the pain Akagi had caused, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she didn't have to face it alone.
As they sat around the low table, their plates stacked with pancakes and laughter filling the space, she glanced around at her new friends—Shoko with her sharp wit, and Satoru with his easy confidence and her best friend Suguru with his quiet strength. Maybe she didn't need to forget. Maybe all she needed was to heal, and perhaps, just maybe, this strange, wonderful place would help her do just that.
Satoru leaned back in his chair, looking completely satisfied with his culinary contribution. "So, Sana," he began, a mischievous glint in his eye, "any plans on how you're going to customize that uniform?"
She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. "Uh, I haven't really thought about it…"
Shoko grinned. "Oh, you better think fast. With these two around, you'll end up with something ridiculous if you're not careful."
Sana smiled, for the first time feeling a genuine lightness in her chest. "Alright, I'll think about it."
Suguru raised his glass of juice, giving her a nod. "To new beginnings."