The white light of the surgical lamp burned Satoru's eyes the moment he opened them.
A cold brightness forced him to squint and raise his hand to his forehead, and when his fingers brushed against his skin, he felt a sharp sting, as if the shock of reality immediately reminded him that he was still there, lying on the stretcher.
"Mmm…"
"You're awake." A voice sounded beside him, heavy with the familiar scent of tobacco and alcohol that always accompanied it.
Satoru struggled to adjust to the light and turned his head.
Shoko was sitting on a metal stool next to the bed, her legs crossed, a lit cigarette between her fingers and a small flask in the other hand. The chill of the steel bed seeped into his back, making the room feel less like an operating theater and more like a dim morgue.
"So, I lost, huh?" Satoru said with a smile that tugged at the wounds on his face.
Shoko let out a short laugh, exhaling a ring of smoke that blurred her gaze. "I remember that after the Culling Game, Yuki came drinking with me."
She took a swig from the flask and, imitating Yuki's drowsy voice, added, "'Shoko, you know? For the first time, I saw with my own eyes that gods exist… and it was in that handsome boy.'"
Then she tossed the line toward Satoru's body. "She's got some nerve saying that, doesn't she?"
Under the cold glare of the lamp, Satoru's pale blue eyes seemed endless, and his smile froze for a moment before widening again, though something more complex flickered in his gaze.
He didn't answer right away, resting his uninjured arm behind his head and letting out a quiet "Heh."
Shoko stood up, walked closer, and flicked him lightly on the forehead. "He went easy on you." She said it while pulling some photographs from her coat pocket and dropping them onto his chest.
Satoru picked one up.
In the picture, his body was embedded in rock: a black burn stretched diagonally from his left waist to his right shoulder. There was no blood—only charred flesh, as if something had bitten into his skin until it turned black and rigid.
"If he'd used just a little more strength…" Shoko said, pointing at the photo with the flask, "you'd be in pieces right now."
The photos clattered onto the metal tray with a dry sound.
"Expected." Satoru kept his head resting on his arm, staring at the light as it reflected in his blue eyes, which glowed like two burning points. "He still hasn't used that katana that can cut Sukuna's soul."
Shoko took another swig. "And what does that mean?"
"It means he didn't hold back because he didn't want to fight," Satoru replied with a calm smile, bringing his index finger and thumb close together, leaving barely two centimeters between them. "It's just that I was too weak. If he'd slipped up even a little…"
"He'd have cut you in half?" Shoko said instantly, dead-on, and flicked her cigarette butt perfectly into the trash can.
"..."
There were three seconds of silence, then both burst out laughing so hard the glass bottles in the cabinet rattled.
Satoru's laughter mixed with a fit of coughing and a thin trickle of blood that didn't stop him from smiling. Still laughing, Shoko shoved a lollipop into his mouth.
"Next time…" Satoru murmured with the candy between his teeth, and though his voice was low, his eyes burned with a different light, "…at least I'll make him show me that katana."
Watching the smoke slowly fade into the air, Shoko, as if remembering something, tapped him on the head. "Ah, right. He asked me to remind you not to forget about his house."
Satoru sat up suddenly, the bandages loosening and falling to the floor.
Even though his Reverse Cursed Technique had already healed his wounds, he could still feel a faint burn running across his back. "And me, like this!" he exclaimed, looking at his bare torso. "And he still wants to squeeze more out of me?"
Shoko calmly sat back down on the metal stool, lighting a new cigarette. "You can just not do it," she said in a quiet voice, exhaling the smoke without looking at him.
Satoru's look of complaint froze instantly. Three seconds later, he scratched his hair in resignation. "Forget it, I'll just do it."
"Heh." Shoko let out a short laugh and, pointing toward the door with her finger, remarked, "You don't have anything broken anymore." But when she saw him trying to get closer again, she lifted her foot and pushed him hard. "Now, out of my infirmary."
"You're so cold, Shoko~" Satoru said, instantly changing his tone, swaying his hips as he approached her, but he didn't even manage two steps before receiving a direct kick to the backside that sent him flying out the door.
Boom
The heavy metal door slammed shut behind him with a sharp sound.
In front of it, the three young students were resting huddled against the wall: Yūji slept with his head tilted, drooling on Megumi's arm; Megumi, with his arms crossed, looked on the verge of falling asleep sitting up; and Nobara still clutched her glow stick even in her dreams.
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Satoru crouched down slowly, bringing his lips close to their ears.
"SUKUNA HAS REVIVED!!!"
"WAAAAAH!!!"
Yūji's scream was so loud that he shot up instantly, smacking his head against Megumi's jaw, while Nobara, startled, jammed the glow stick up her nose.
The three rolled on the floor in a chaotic mess as Satoru doubled over laughing, pounding his fist on the ground, while furious banging echoed from Shoko inside the infirmary.
…
In the same car dealership where Damian and Marin had bought the R8, the bald, nervous salesman rubbed his hands together anxiously as he followed four women with completely different styles.
Beads of sweat slid down his forehead as he tried to maintain a professional smile.
"This SUV model has plenty of space…" he began to explain, but Marin interrupted him, hopping from side to side.
"No, no! Too old-fashioned!"
Her twin tails bounced with every jump, swaying back and forth as she moved through the showroom with childlike enthusiasm.
Rin, on the other hand, observed a Ferrari with an analytical look. Beside her, Sakura leaned in and whispered:
"Sis, this one only has two seats…"
"I know." Rin crossed her arms and tapped the floor with the tip of her heel, impatient. "But the color's nice."
A few meters away, Artoria stood in front of a limousine, measuring the rear seat space with her hand.
"This one… could it hold ten takeout orders?"
The salesman blinked, a nervous tic twitching on his face.
"Miss, that model is… for corporate use."
"For the family car, let's take that one." Marin suddenly pointed to a silver minivan in the corner and winked at Rin. "The back seats can recline completely~!"
Rin's face turned red, and she quickly turned her head away, letting her hair hide her expression.
Minutes later, Marin finished signing the purchase for the Alphard with "her card" and brought a finger to her chin, thoughtful.
"So, what kind of car should we buy for Damian-kun?"
That question stopped everything. The three of them went silent, as if someone had pressed "pause." Rin and Sakura exchanged pensive looks, while Artoria, noticing everyone's distraction, remembered the dessert she had seen earlier in the break room.
"I'm thirsty," she said gracefully, and before anyone could answer, she had already disappeared, returning seconds later with a tray full of macarons.
The three watched her walk away, then, after a brief pause, chuckled softly.
Rin leaned toward Marin, lowering her voice.
"Marin-neesan, what kind of sports car does brother-in-law like? Bugatti? Koenigsegg?"
Marin shook her head, her twin tails swaying.
"Sports cars? The seats are hard. Damian-kun would say they're uncomfortable."
"A guy who doesn't love supercars?!" exclaimed Sakura, eyes wide open.
"Ours isn't like the others," Marin replied proudly. But then her eyes sparkled with an idea.
"I know what to do!" she said, quickly pulling out her phone.
Rin and Sakura leaned in with curiosity as she dialed a number. The phone barely rang once before an elegant voice answered on the other end.
"Miss Kitagawa, I'm glad to receive your call."
Marin's nose wrinkled slightly as a mischievous smile appeared on her lips.
"Kaguya, did you have fun last night?"
The other end of the line fell completely silent.
Kaguya's fingers tensed around the phone.
Did Damian-kun… tell her?
A buzzing filled her mind. The brief calm she had felt that morning after Damian's words, "Marin is willing to accept you," shattered instantly.
The thought that the official girlfriend was calling to confront her tightened her throat—she even forgot to breathe.
"Relax!" Marin's playful voice broke the tension. "I didn't call to interrogate you. After all…" She drew out the tone teasingly. "…I was the one who gave the green light."
Kaguya inhaled sharply and let herself sink into the leather seat's backrest. She tried to maintain her composure, but the end of her sentence still trembled.
"May I know… to what do I owe the honor of your call, Miss Kitagawa?"
Marin began to explain between complaints and laughter her dilemmas in choosing a car.
As she listened, Kaguya felt the tension slowly melt away. She even let out a small laugh.
"Send me the address."
"Eh?" Marin blinked, confused.
"I'm coming right now."
For the first time, Kaguya's voice sounded different to Marin: without its usual elegance, a little impatient, excited.
Before the call ended, Marin could hear a frantic voice shouting in the background:
"Miss! Your heels!"
In the break room, Artoria had already devoured half a tray of macarons. Her rounded cheeks made her look like a hamster. Rin and Sakura looked at Marin, who had just put down her phone, with surprise and curiosity.
"Kaguya?" Rin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh-huh." Marin waved her phone proudly. "She said she's on her way."
"Wow." Sakura let out a small exclamation, while Rin crossed her arms, glancing between the silver Alphard minivan and Marin's satisfied smile.
…
A few minutes later, outside, a black sedan stopped in front of the showroom. The chauffeur hurried out and opened the rear door.
Ai was the first to step out, her sharp gaze sweeping over the place with precision before moving aside. Then Kaguya descended.
Her heels struck the gleaming floor with firm clicks, drawing several heads toward her.
Inside the showroom, Marin waited with her hands on her hips and a wide smile.
Behind her, Rin stood with her arms crossed and chin raised. Sakura, on the other hand, watched with curiosity, her eyes tracing Kaguya's figure from head to toe.
Kaguya stopped in front of Marin and nodded with elegance.
"Miss Kitagawa."
Marin grinned from ear to ear and returned the gesture.
Kaguya's eyes scanned the showroom until they stopped on a bright orange Lamborghini in the center—its design bold and flashy.
"A sports car?" she asked bluntly.
"Yes!" Rin answered before Marin could. "It's a gift for my brother-in-law!"
Kaguya gently shook her head.
"It's not suitable."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"The seats in sports cars are hard. He wouldn't like them. And the space is too small. Damian-kun prefers a sense of freedom, like when he rides his motorcycles, and…"
Kaguya suddenly stopped, remembering the scenes from the previous night, and her face turned slightly red.
She coughed softly, trying to regain her usual composure.
"He came to see me last night on his motorcycle."
Marin raised an eyebrow, her smile widening.
Sakura, a little shy, asked gently, "Then… an executive car? Marin-nee-san just bought an Alphard."
"That's for family use," Kaguya replied, turning her head toward the corner of the showroom, where an imposing all-black Rolls-Royce Cullinan rested under the ceiling lights.
A beastly machine with a grand, robust design, large proportions, and undeniable presence…
Rin let out a short laugh.
"Taste of a nouveau riche."
Kaguya didn't bother to look at her. "It has a high base, good visibility, and suits his style. Also, the sound insulation is excellent."
She walked firmly toward the vehicle, running her fingers over the glossy hood, admiring the smoothness of the finish.
"The space is sufficient. He can take a nap in the back seat. And the trunk…"
She turned her head toward Rin and Marin.
"…has more than enough room to carry plenty of family belongings."
Rin loosened her crossed arms slightly, and Marin, her eyes shining, dashed toward the car.
"Really!?"
Kaguya nodded without hesitation.
"All-wheel drive. Bulletproof windows and reinforced chassis are optional." She looked directly at her. "A mobile fortress. It suits him perfectly."
Marin enthusiastically slapped the hood.
"This one it is!"
She pulled out "her card," and just as she was about to call the salesman, she suddenly remembered something. Leaning closer to Kaguya, lowering her voice with a mischievous, gossipy smile, she whispered,
"Eh…" She gave her a playful nudge. "Last night… how many times did you do it?"
________
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