[ In the grand scheme of things, some light bruising isn't anything to worry about, and Gojo is more than used to seeing his students and colleagues take both minor and major hits in battle. But they're trained for this, have accepted injury as a part of their lot in life as sorcerers. Sumina isn't like that. She was only trying to help him...

And more than the redness at her neck, she is trembling, too, and before he's even thought it through, he kneels down more fully in front of her, his hands gliding over her arm and sweep of her neck, so he can grasp her shoulders, steadfast and reassuring. He doesn't quite pull her into a hug, or anything like that — he knows better than to cling too tightly to someone who is having an extreme response like this, but he offers what he can with his presence, with the weight and warmth of his hands.

This is his fault. She wouldn't be in this situation if not for him, so he owes her answers, as much as he wants to run from her question, from memories that even now dance across his mind, fresh and indelible as they were the moment they happened.

His gaze falls away, distant and inscrutable. ]

My shadow...must have known it couldn't take me in a real fight, even when I was out of it. So I guess...instead, it decided to use someone I cared about against me. Someone I lost.

[ A dirty trick someone else had used against him not that long ago, either. His heart is his greatest weakness, isn't it?

Love really is the most twisted curse of all. ]