Salmon - Agree/Affirm
Bonito flakes - Disagree/deny
Kelp - Greeting
Mustard Leaf - Concern / Worry
Salmon Roe - To grab attention
Tuna - Focus
Tuna tuna - Look
Tuna mayo - Talk
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Two months later.
Inumaki catches his breath, the cold winter air filling his lungs. His eyes scan the scenery of pure white. A loud shriek rings out from his ear followed by multiple collisions. The noise coming from the most precious person in his world. Y/N.
Inumaki turns around to see Y/N on her butt with snow covering her lower half. Itadori chuckles loudly behind her, also sitting on the mound of snow. "I told you to slow down. Hills are no joke, Y/L/N." Itadori slowly stands up and extends his hand out to help Y/L/N.
You're about to take Itadori's hand when you see Inumaki's hand in the corner of your eye. Not wanting the situation to be awkward, you gladly take the two's hands with a smile. It's been two days into your winter break and the group decided to spend the break at a skiing lodge. Inumaki helps you brush the snow off your coat, a chuckle escaping his lips. Itadori also pats himself off when he notices the snow that's attached onto him.
"Wonder where the others are. It's getting late." Itadori watches the sun setting over the horizon. The view is absolutely breathtaking as you're left in awe. You hardly realize your jaw dropping until Inumaki's mittens rest at the bottom of your chin.
Pursing your lips, you grow embarrassed. But hearing Inumaki's snickers easily distracts you. You hear a faint sound of a camera clicking from a cellphone. Itadori grins when he looks over at the moment he's captured. "Hey, let's take a picture while we wait for the others." Itadori cheerfully exclaims, his arm already stretching forward to align the camera for the three of you to fit into the frame.
Inumaki raises a peace sign up and Itadori follows suite. You decide to form a heart with your arms, basically squishing the two boys heads against your arms so the three of you are in the heart. The silly pose is rewarded with laughter when Itadori rapidly taps his phone screen to capture the moment. As Inumaki and Itadori look over the photos, you decide to take a moment to watch the two interact. Who knew you'd cross paths with two amazing guys in a single day.
You've long forgotten how sad you must've felt before you met Itadori and Inumaki. The memories of you believing that you'll be alone forever is so distant now. These past few months have shown you what life really is meant to be. Full of happiness, love, and warmth of close bonds. Each day is a day to make memories because you'll never know when it'll be your last.
A smile laces your lips as your eyes soften at the sight of the beautiful sunset against Inumaki and Itadori. Itadori looks up from his phone, a smile forming on his own face when he looks at you. "What are you standing there smiling like a fool for, Y/L/N?" Itadori teases, his nose crinkling innocently. Inumaki raises his eyes away from Itadori's phone to look over to you.
Shaking your head, you shrug. "Not telling." You hum out. You then look around for Panda, Maki, and Okkotsu. "We should probably call one of them. It's going to get dark really quick."
Itadori nods, his finger already hovering over his contacts. Before he can make a call, the loud voice of Panda rings out. "ITA, TOGE, Y/L/N!!" The three of you turn your heads up towards the hill. There stands Panda, waving excitedly. "CANNON BALL!" He shouts out before skiing down the hill in top speed.
Your eyes widen, worried that you'll be in Panda's way. It's hard to gauge where he'll slow down at because of his swerving back and forth. "Salmon roe." Inumaki's voice fills your ears when he grabs hold of your hand and Itadori's wrist. He tugs the two of you to the far left side. Panda ends up stopping on the right side of the hill, tripping over his own ski's.
Maki and Okkotsu gracefully reach the bottom, a disappointed look on their faces when they see Panda faceplanting the snow. Maki shakes her head, a snicker falling from her lips. "Idiot. Who says cannonball when gliding down a snowy hill." Despite her comment, she trudges carefully over to Panda to help him.
Okkotsu turns his attention over to Y/L/N, Itadori, and Inumaki. He speaks up softly, "Sorry for meeting up a bit late. Panda insisted on going down one of the harder slopes one last time." Itadori shakes his head, walking over to Okkotsu to pat him on the shoulder. "We didn't wait long. We were about to call you three just now." Itadori says with a smile. "Oh! Look at this cute photo we took while we were waiting." Itadori happily shows off the photo earlier to Okkotsu.
Okkotsu refrains from smiling despite the corner of his lips twitching in response. The three look incredibly happy here. Okkotsu raises his eyes over to look at Y/L/N and Inumaki. Inumaki is pointing at Y/L/N's red button nose. The boy mouths the word, "Cold?". Y/L/N shakes her head no despite her entire face slowly turning red from the sharpness of the winter air.
Itadori raises a brow when he notices Okkotsu's silence. He lowers his phone and clears his throat to speak up. "Do you want a photo with the two Okkotsu? I'll take it." Okkotsu turns his attention back over to Itadori, his lips parting to say something but he finds himself being pushed towards Inumaki and Y/L/N.
Okkotsu is greeted with a smile from both Y/L/N and Inumaki. "Did you have fun with Maki and Panda?" Y/L/N questions Okkotsu. He nods in response before Itadori cuts into the conversation. "Okkotsu wants a photo. He seemed envious of the one we took." Itadori lies, making Okkotsu narrow his eyes on the pink haired boy. But Okkotsu didn't put a fight. Inumaki and Y/L/N also didn't poke fun of him either.
Inumaki wraps his left arm over Y/L/N and Okkotsu, squishing the three close. Itadori chuckles, raising the phone over his face. "Don't just stand there Okkotsu, Y/L/N." Okkotsu makes eye contact with Y/L/N who startles him when her eyes are already resting on his face. She grins from ear to ear, pinching his cheek. Okkotsu's eyes widen slightly, thrown off by her action. He clears his throat before hovering a peace sign behind her head. Itadori grins from behind his phone, rapidly taking photos.
After the photo is taken, stomps from behind Itadori quickens. Panda rushes over to the group, getting behind Inumaki, Okkotsu, and Y/L/N. "Don't forget about me! I want in on the photo too!" Panda exclaims with a huff and puff. Maki scoffs before situating herself beside Panda.
Panda waves down a family, asking them for a favor to take a photo of the entire group together. The father happily agrees, taking Itadori's phone from him. Itadori hurries over to stand on Panda's other side, grinning widely. "1...2...3!" The man announces as he captures the photo. He encourages the group to make silly faces for the next photo before returning Itadori's phone.
Itadori bows to the man, thanking him as he sees him off. The group also bows to the family, waving goodbye. "Now let's head back to the lodge and warm up in the hot springs." Maki laces her arms with Y/L/N, pulling her along and away from the boys. Itadori, Inumaki, and Panda perk up at the idea of a relaxing hot spring after spending a day out in the cold skiing.
"Are the hot springs co-ed?" Panda smirks, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "No, you pervert." Okkotsu mutters under his breath, shoving Panda from behind to move forward. Itadori chuckles at Panda's comment, a shake to his head.
*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
Itadori exhales loudly as he relaxes in the warmth of the hot spring. He leans over the cobbled stones walls, closing his eyes as his muscles relax. Panda childishly floats around in the hot spring while he looks up at the stars above. While Okkotsu and Inumaki silently look up at the stars while soaking in the water beside each other. Things have been calm since the night of Halloween.
Too calm for Inumaki's liking. Not one crime has been attempted since that night. There's not even a single lead on where Mahito is. Each day Inumaki is on edge. His mind full of worries that Mahito may attack Y/N at any moment. But the time never comes. He wonders what that patch faced man is thinking.
"So, what did you guys get the girls for Christmas? You guys didn't forget that it's tomorrow, right?" Itadori flutters his eyes open to look at the others. Panda floats over to Itadori, his hand patting Itadori's shoulder before he rests his back against the cobbled stone walls. "Of course I didn't forget. Holidays like this is more enjoyable with friends." Panda hums out with a nod to his own words.
Inumaki raises a finger to his lips, not wanting to answer Itadori's question. Okkotsu eyes his best friend before looking over at Itadori who puckers his lips. "What did you get them Ita?" Okkotsu speaks up. Itadori grins from ear to ear, proud of the present he's gotten the two. "Snacks from my hometown."
Panda scoffs, splashing water at Itadori. "Are you sure those gifts weren't meant to be handed to them before Christmas? Didn't you go to your hometown back in November?" Itadori's face pales over and he quickly submerges himself under the water. The sound of laughter fills the hot spring from Panda and Inumaki. Okkotsu snickers with a shake to his head.
The conversation falls short right after with the others quietly enjoying the night sky. Inumaki feels a moment of peace as his thoughts trail off to the gift he's purchased for Y/N. He grows nervous the more he thinks about it. He only hopes Y/N will love it as much as he loved picking it out for her in mind.