A sudden downpour had turned the courtyard into a maze of puddles by mid–afternoon. Gojo, drenched but unfazed, stamped his feet under the main corridor's overhang and dangerously teetered on the line between well-groomed and bedraggled. Above him, a storm gutter rattled and spit out a flurry of pink petals—and, to his surprise, a dozen fluttering love letters.
"Hey, what the—?" Gojo lunged forward as the wind caught the papers, sending them dancing around him like sakura in a gale. He reached out, snatching letter after letter before they vanished back into the storm.
Each envelope was identical—blush-pink paper sealed with a tiny lightning bolt sticker. He tore one open:
> "Your smile makes my heart feel like it's struck by lightning. Stop being so charming, you perv."
He sniffed it. The scent of ozone and a faint hint of cherry blossom perfume fluttered in his nostrils. "Ozone… that's Raika. And cherry blossom—that's Suma's favorite." He paused. "But Suma's never zapped me out of embarrassment…"
He held up another letter:
> "Every time I think of you, I short-circuit. That's inconvenient and annoying and… nice."
He frowned. The handwriting matched the first. "Definitely Raika."
By the time he gathered all twelve letters, a small crowd of curious students had formed. He flashed his most disarming grin. "Hey, anyone lost their mail?"
No one claimed them. Gojo cradled the stack like prized manga and ducked back inside.
---
Hikami's Rooftop Hideaway
Later that evening, Raika sat on the rooftop, thunderclouds gathering beyond the rail. She hugged her knees, brows furrowed, twin tails sparking nervously.
Hikami appeared through the doorway, elegant even by fire-fairy standards. "You vanished right after training sparks went off," she said, perching beside Raika.
Raika jolted. "I—I needed fresh air."
Hikami tilted her head. "Or you couldn't handle seeing Gojo's godly abs up close?"
Raika groaned. "Not helping." She buried her face in her arms. "I'm such an idiot. My heart's always a thunderstorm around him."
Hikami smirked. "Because you like him."
Raika flinched. "Sh-shut up!"
"He found your letters," Hikami said gently. "They were floating out of the gutter, storm-carried."
Raika's ears burned. "He… he did? But I—"
Hikami placed a hand on her shoulder. "Raika, you're terrified. You think if you admit your feelings first, you'll look weak. But pretending you don't like him just… makes you look like a live wire about to snap."
Raika sniffed. "But what if he doesn't like me back?"
"Then you won't know until you try." Hikami's amber eyes softened. "And Gojo won't get zapped out of confusion every time you blush."
Raika swallowed. "I'm… scared."
Hikami smiled. "Good. Because fear means you care." She faded back through the door, leaving Raika alone with the rising wind.
---
Gojo's Apartment: Evening
Gojo burst into the living room, drenched and triumphant. Suma, Hiyori, Mizuki, and Arashi looked up from a bizarre late-night Udon-making session.
"I found them!" he announced, waving the stack of letters. "All twelve of them."
Suma leapt up, accidentally flinging a noodle into the air. "Those are Raika's, right?"
Hiyori clapped her hands. "O-zone and cherry blossom—two clues!"
Mizuki nodded serenely. "Your friend circle is… adventurous."
Arashi snorted. "Still can't believe she wrote that many."
Gojo spread the letters across the table. "Should I read one in class?" he joked, but his heart thumped at the idea.
Suddenly, the lights flickered—Raika's involuntary signature. She stood in the doorway, twin tails bristling, electricity crackling around her fingers.
"W-What are you all doing?" she demanded, voice trembling.
"Just discussing your… artistry," Gojo said, flashing a mischievous grin.
Raika's eyes shone with panic and that familiar spark. "D-Don't read them! They're—yours—!"
Hiyori set down a ladle. "Too late. We know."
Raika's elbows bent as energy surged. "I—can't—"
Crack! A flash of blue light scattered across the room. Sake cups and utensils flew toward her, magnetized by the uncontrolled charge.
Gojo leapt forward, gathering Raika into his arms again. "It's okay, I got you."
Her powers clashed with his calm warmth. The room crackled with static.
Suma dove out of the way, slamming her udon book shut. "Every. Single. Day."
Mizuki began chanting a quiet water charm to dampen the magnetic field. Hiyori grabbed Raika's hand, grounding her with her own mild frost magic. Arashi readied a wind gust to redirect flying cutlery.
Within moments, the chaos subsided. Gojo held Raika close, eyes knotting with concern. "Are you hurt?"
She shook, tears mingling with the storm outside. "No… I'm stupid."
He brushed a wet strand of hair from her forehead. "You're brave. You wrote twelve letters expressing your feelings!"
She faltered. "You… you read them aloud."
His gaze softened. "I did. And I realized… I care too."
Raika froze, lungs tightening.
He continued, voice gentle: "You don't have to hide it anymore."
She trembled, electricity flickering one last time before settling. With a shaky exhale, she looked up at him, violet eyes glistening.
"G-gojo…"
---
Rooftop Epilogue
Hours later, Raika sat beneath an open sky, Gojo beside her, sharing one umbrella. They clasped hands, no letters needed. The storm had passed—inside and out.
Between them, the wind whispered a promise: sometimes love rides the lightning, but it always finds its calm.