Noon.
The sun was hanging lazily over Sobu High School, shining bright enough to make even the rooftop railings look warm.
And yet…
Under the shade of the small rooftop gazebo—
Gojo Satoru was sleeping like a dead man.
Not even an exorcist alarm, not even a curse spirit screaming, not even a student shouting could wake him.
He was lying on the bench with his arms folded behind his head, one leg hanging off the side, his sunglasses tilted slightly.
A perfect picture of a shameless, irresponsible adult.
A gentle spring breeze brushed through his snow-white hair.
For a moment, it looked peaceful.
Then—
Gojo suddenly jerked awake.
"Ugh…!"
He stretched his arms high, his spine cracking loudly.
And immediately after that, he let out a long, painful groan.
"Ughhhh… ahhh—!"
The sound echoed across the area like a wounded animal.
He stayed frozen for a few seconds, as if he'd just been stabbed in the back by a cursed spirit.
Then, slowly…
He stopped.
"…Ah."
Gojo blinked.
His expression became calm again, like nothing happened.
As if that embarrassing sound wasn't real.
When—
A faint female voice drifted into his ears.
"…Sensei."
Gojo didn't even open his eyes.
He crossed one leg over the other and replied lazily.
"What's wrong?"
His tone was casual.
With the Six Eyes and his ability to feel the presence of anything under a certain area (This is due to releasing his curse energy —very little so it doesn't hard anyone or create a curse spirit— and sensing his energy on the person or things), with no blind spots, Gojo already knew exactly who was standing nearby.
It was—
Hanabi Yasuraoka.
{T/N: Hanabi Yasuraoka (安楽岡 花火 Yasuraoka Hanabi) from the Anime— Scum's Wish}
Right now, she was standing beside him, staring at Gojo with the same dead eyes. A yakisoba bread on her hand.
"My grandfather didn't groan this much when he died."
Gojo's lips twitched.
"…Wow."
Hanabi's tone didn't change at all.
But the complaint in her voice was crystal clear.
She looked completely done with him.
Gojo opened one eye, glanced at her cheek, then closed it again.
"You've got sauce on your face."
Hanabi froze.
She lifted a hand and wiped her cheek.
The noodle sauce came off.
She stared at her fingers for a second.
Then she looked back at him.
"…I didn't ask."
Gojo grinned.
"Heh. You're cute when you're mad."
Hanabi's eyes narrowed slightly.
That was the closest she ever got to an emotional outburst.
For a moment, the area fell into silence.
Only the distant voices of students could be heard below.
Gojo stayed lying down.
Hanabi stayed standing.
Neither of them spoke.
Gojo continued pretending he was still sleepy.
After a minute—
Gojo finally sighed and sat up.
He rolled his shoulders, stretching his stiff body like an old man.
Then, he pulled out his phone and opened LINE.
A message notification was waiting.
Nino: Gojo-kun, do you want to come for lunch? I made an extra bento.
The message had been sent about ten minutes ago.
Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Then he typed quickly.
Gojo Satoru: Where are you? I was sleeping.
Less than ten seconds later—
A reply came.
Nino: On the rooftop. We already started eating. Come up here. My other four sisters are here too.
Gojo Satoru: OK. Wait for me.
He put the phone away and stood up, sliding his hands into his pockets. Then, as he walked past Hanabi, he casually tossed her an advice like a sincere teacher.
"Eat less bread, kid. Be careful you'll stunt your growth~"
Hanabi stopped chewing.
Her fingers tightened around the yakisoba bread.
Crunch.
The bread almost got crushed. Her eyes turned sharp, looking fiercely at the bastard figure not far away.
"…"
Gojo kept walking, as if obvious to the stare he was getting.
Totally shameless.
Hanabi stared at his back.
Her expression didn't change.
But her thoughts were loud.
What does he mean by stunted growth? Is he calling me flat? Is he implying something?
Her jaw tightened.
She opened her mouth to take another bite—
Then stopped.
She looked down at the bread.
Then back at Gojo's figure.
"…Is it really malnutrition?"
For the first time, Hanabi's deadpan face showed a trace of worry, she was a girl after all.
She touched her own waist lightly.
Then her chest.
She frowned.
"…No."
She quickly shook her head, like she was rejecting a cursed illusion.
Then she decided—
She would finish the bread now. And later, she would bring a proper bento.
The cafeteria was too troublesome anyway.
Hanabi hated it.
.....
Meanwhile—
Gojo Satoru walked toward the rooftop entrance with a satisfied smile.
In his mind, he heard an imaginary voice.
Pillow: Did you forget me?
Gojo paused.
"…Ah."
He turned his head slightly.
Then remembered.
His pillow!
His pillow was still on the bench. He was so focus on getting out that he forgot his pillow!
Gojo stared for a second.
Then shrugged.
"…Nah."
He continued walking.
A man who abandons his pillow is a man who has accepted fate.
.....
Rooftop —
Gojo stepped onto the rooftop of Sobu High School.
Instantly—
The lively lunch atmosphere hit him.
Groups of students everywhere.
Some sitting on benches.
Some sitting on mats.
Some leaning against the railings.
It's good thing that the rooftop was big enough that even with dozens of students, it didn't feel cramped.
Gojo scanned the area lazily.
And at first glance—
He found them.
Five girls.
Same face.
Different hair styles and expressions.
The Nakano Quintuplets.
They were sitting in a neat little circle, their lunch boxes arranged in front of them.
Nino was in the center, as usual, radiating "I'm the main heroine" energy.
They were eating with along in the side, far away from the other groups.
Gojo walked over.
Then, without any shame, he greeted them like a flirt in a cheap romance drama.
"Wow. Five beautiful girls."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Can I eat with you?"
The moment he spoke—
Nino's reaction was instant.
Hearing another 'bastard' who wanted to come and eat together, she turned back. Her expression fierce as if she want to scold this stupid buffoon.
"What do you mean eat with us—!"
But then her eyes landed on him.
"…Gojo sensei?"
Her face changed so fast it was terrifying.
Her previous irritation disappeared like smoke, a bright smile bloomed instantly.
"Gojo sensei! You're here!"
The four sisters were taken aback by the speed at which her face changed.
Then—
"…This girl is so down bad."
Ichika blinked.
Then whispered.
"…That's terrifying."
Miku stared at Nino like she was witnessing a miracle.
"…Her face just changed in 0.2 seconds."
Yotsuba looked amazed.
"Woooah! Nino, you're like an actress!"
Itsuki sighed, rubbing her forehead.
....
Gojo, meanwhile, sat down casually, beside Nino as he asked,
"So… where's my share, Nino?"
Nino's cheeks reddened.
"H-Hmph… of course I prepared one!"
She quickly reached beside her and pulled out a bento.
It was a clean lunch box with a soft sakura blossom print on the lid.
She held it out carefully.
After taking it, and uncovering the lid, he raised his eyebrows when he saw the ingredients inside.
"…Oh?"
Inside were carefully arranged ingredients: Salmon slices, fish roe, tamagoyaki, rice shaped neatly and most shocking of all—
A whole piece of high-grade wagyu beef.
Gojo stared.
Then looked at Nino.
"So fancy?"
Nino smiled, trying to act casual.
"It's normal. We eat this kind of thing all the time."
The rooftop went silent.
Then—
STARE.
Four pairs of eyes turned to Nino.
Ichika's eyes said: Liar.
Miku's eyes said: You're simping too hard.
Yotsuba's eyes said: Wow! That's love!
Itsuki's eyes said: Shameful.
Nino's smile stiffened.
"…W-What?"
Itsuki spoke first, blunt as always.
"…We do not eat wagyu every day."
If they did then she wouldn't have begged Nino to make some for her too...
Ichika nodded.
"Yeah. Speak for yourself."
Miku quietly picked up a piece of salmon.
"…This is clearly special treatment for Gojo sensei."
Yotsuba raised her hand like she was answering in class.
"Nino! That's romantic!"
Nino's face turned bright red.
"S-Shut up!"
Gojo laughed softly.
Then picked up the wagyu with his chopsticks.
He took a bite.
Chewed.
Then nodded seriously, as he feels the taste lingering on his tongue.
"…Delicious."
Nino's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Gojo nodded.
"It's good. You're talented."
Nino looked so happy she almost melted.
Then, without thinking— she picked up another piece of wagyu from her own bento.
"If you like it, I'll give you mine too."
Gojo instantly raised his arm to block.
"No, no, no. You eat yours."
Nino's hand froze midair.
"…Oh."
Her shoulders drooped slightly.
She looked genuinely disappointed, at not being able to feed him with her hand.
Gojo noticed.
He leaned closer and lowered his voice slightly.
"…But if you keep cooking like this, I'll probably end up visiting you every day."
Nino's eyes widened.
Her face turned red again.
"…Y-You…!"
Itsuki sighed loudly.
"…Gojo-sensei, please stop teasing her."
Gojo smiled.
"Can't help it."
Ichika leaned forward slightly, smirking.
"Sensei, are you flirting with my sister right in front of us?"
Gojo tilted his head.
"Is it flirting if it's true?"
Ichika froze.
"…Ugh."
Miku stared at Gojo for a second.
Then quietly asked.
"…Sensei, do you like matcha?"
Gojo blinked.
"…Huh?"
Miku nodded seriously.
"I saw you drinking matcha earlier."
She was a smart girl.
She didn't say that she was the one who give him the drink...she doesn't know how Nino will react to it.
Gojo smiled, noticing it before saying,
"Yeah. Matcha is good."
Miku's eyes sparkled slightly. "...I see."
Yotsuba clapped happily.
"Wow! Miku, you're brave!"
Miku immediately looked away.
"…I'm not."
The six of them continued eating.
Talking, laughing and most of all arguing, looking happy.
It was noisy, but warm.
...
This actually made many boys who wanted to come over to eat together jealous.
"…Why can he eat with the quintuplets?"
"Is it because he's handsome?"
"No, it's because he's a teacher."
"Wait… isn't that worse?"
One boy clenched his fist.
"Damn it…!"
Another boy muttered bitterly.
"That white-haired monster…"
A third boy nodded solemnly.
{T/N: Guess who this three boys are}
.....
Gojo, meanwhile, took another bite of wagyu and smiled.
He didn't care.
Not even a little.
....
Word count— 1,727