At half past nine in the morning, Akihabara was already overflowing with people.
Colorful electronic billboards flashed above the streets, anime songs echoed from nearby stores, and countless pedestrians moved through the bustling district carrying shopping bags filled with figures, manga, and games.
Compared to the tense atmosphere of the previous night's battle against the Curse Spirit, the current scene felt almost unreal as if it didn't even happened.
Meanwhile—
In front of a giant electronic screen outside a certain department store.
Gojo Satoru was currently standing in a corner with great interest while watching an underwear commercial playing on the massive display.
His expression looked extremely serious.
As if he were studying some profound philosophical truth.
Beside him, Nakano Nino's mouth twitched violently.
"…Gojo-kun."
"Hm?"
Gojo responded casually without even looking away from the screen.
Nino stared at him expressionlessly.
There was such a beautiful girl standing beside him…
Yet he was seriously watching an underwear advertisement?
What exactly was wrong with this man?
Nino crossed her arms unhappily.
"…Can you explain what you're doing?"
"Hm?" Gojo finally turned his head slightly. Seeing Nino's dead-fish stare, he blinked innocently. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?!"
Nino almost lost her composure on the spot.
"You're asking me what's wrong?!"
She pointed angrily at the giant screen.
"There's a girl standing right next to you, but you're staring at underwear commercials with sparkling eyes! Am I lacking charm, or are you just a hopeless Pervert?!"
Gojo immediately realized the misunderstanding.
"Ahem." He coughed twice seriously before standing up. "You misunderstood me...."
Nino narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"…Oh?"
Gojo placed one hand on his chest confidently.
"I just thought the model looked a little like an old friend of mine." Then he smoothly added, "Besides, you're much prettier than her."
Too bad, Nino didn't buy it as she repeated herself, "…oh?"
"Of course." Gojo answered without hesitation.
Although half of what he said was nonsense, the compliment itself was completely genuine.
Nino finally looked away slightly while trying to suppress the upward curve of her lips.
"…Fine. I'll let you off this time."
Successfully surviving another crisis, Gojo internally gave himself a thumbs-up.
Then he naturally grabbed Nino's hand.
"Let's go. We still need to buy Umaru's game."
Feeling the warmth from his hand, Nino's face reddened slightly, but she didn't resist at all.
Instead, she quietly tightened her grip a little.
The reason they had come all the way to Akihabara today…specifically.
Actually started with a message from Umaru Gojo early in the morning, just after Gojo walked out of the house.
At the time, Gojo was just about to pick up Nino, when his phone suddenly exploded with notifications.
The unusually long message read:
Cola Addict: "Good Onio-chan~😗,
The best big brother in the entire world~ My favorite and only big brother ever~. Your cutest little sister needs help buying the newest fighting game released in Akihabara this morning!
Unfortunately 🥺, your adorable sister is too busy fighting the dream demon and cannot go herself. Please help your poor little sister buy it~.
Love you, Onii-chan~ 🥰"
Even though, Gojo had immediately seen through the manipulation tactics.
Unfortunately, It was Super Effective against Gojo Type!
There was simply no way he could refuse when Umaru acted spoiled like that...
So after picking up Nino, the two of them made a quick detour to Akihabara first.
Naturally, after hearing the reason, Nino had agreed immediately.
After all…Helping your future little sister-in-law buy a game was completely reasonable!
Soon, the two entered the massive game exhibition hall.
Inside, the atmosphere was incredibly lively.
Most of the visitors were young men enthusiastically discussing games with each other, though there were also several girls present.
Large promotional posters covered the walls while giant screens replayed gameplay footage repeatedly.
On stage, a host enthusiastically introduced the newest fighting game that was currently being sold.
As soon as Gojo Satoru and Nino entered, a noticeable stir spread throughout the crowd.
After all, the two of them looked absurdly eye-catching together.
Gojo Satoru's tall figure, snow-white hair, and handsome face in glasses already attracted attention wherever he went.
Meanwhile, Nino's beauty and fashionable appearance made her stand out instantly among the crowd.
Together—they practically looked like celebrities!
Naturally, this also attracted a lot of jealousy.
"Tch…" A nearby otaku clicked his tongue unhappily. "Why are people like that even coming to game exhibitions?"
Another one immediately agreed.
"Exactly."
"People who live in the real world successfully should stay in the real world!"
"What are they doing invading our territory?"
"Seriously, I'm so jealous…"
Hearing the resentful muttering nearby, Nino almost laughed.
Meanwhile, Gojo looked completely calm.
Clearly, he was already used to this kind of reaction.
Among the crowd nearby, A girl with purple hair tied into a side ponytail, she wore a dark sweater and a hat low over her head, giving off a lonely and detached atmosphere, quietly glanced toward them and thought suspiciously.
"That guy, isn't he the teacher at school, right? And isn't that girl...Nino Nakano?"
If anyone who doesn't know them, they would simply think that those two are couple or atleast someone close — even with the height difference.
But Konno Yuuki is also a class D student of Sobu High School!
That's why she recognized both Gojo and Nino at a glance.
Are teachers and students in love?
Although surprised internally, Yuuki quickly lost interest.
Compared to romance gossip—Games were far more important!
So she simply turned back toward the stage indifferently.
Eventually, after the presentation ended, the crowd slowly formed a long line to purchase the newly released game.
Coincidentally, Gojo and Nino ended up standing directly behind her.
After staring at the familiar purple ponytail for a while, Nino finally spoke hesitantly.
"…Konno-san?"
Yuuki paused slightly. Then she sighed inwardly to herself before turning around. "…Hello, Nakano-san."
"Ah, hello…"
Nino suddenly became awkward after meeting someone she knew.
Meeting classmates while on a date with your teacher…
Honestly speaking—it was the most embarrassing and awkward feeling.
Meanwhile, Yuuki calmly glanced between the two of them. Before she fixed her eyes at Gojo Satoru.
"Hello, Gojo-sensei."
Gojo smiled casually, with any awkwardness, "Yo."
After seeing his face clearly up close, even Fukasumi's usually indifferent eyes flickered slightly.
One thing had to be admitted.
This teacher really was ridiculously handsome!
Gojo, meanwhile, recognized her as well.
Konno Yuuki also known as the "Absolute Sword" in ALfheim Online, a tragic character who was born with HIV, contracted from an emergency blood transfusion following a difficult cesarean section.
Even after already suffering from it, after her—well, Illness was leaked in school, she was also bullied and ostracized from the rest of the girls, which later lead her to live the remainder of her short life virtually via a medical device.
Gojo silently recalled the information in his head while maintaining a calm expression outwardly.
Hmm, from the look of it, it hadn't get that serious or is it that she didn't have that illness in this life to begin with?
Should I check?
Yuuki not knowing the rude thought of the person in front of her, turn her head to look at nino , before speaking in a calm voice, "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about you two."
Clearly, she thought Nino's awkwardness came from fear of being exposed.
But unexpectedly, Nino shook her head.
"That's… not really the reason."
She looked away slightly with a complicated expression.
Honestly speaking, she wasn't very afraid of people discovering their relationship.
What she worried about more…was whether public opinion would affect Gojo Satoru as a teacher.
As for her personal embarrassment, that came from something else entirely.
At school, Nakano Nino's image was practically perfect.
Beautiful.
Stylish.
Excellent at cooking.
Sharp-tongued but reliable.
A fashionable queen-type girl.
Yet now, that same fashionable beauty was standing inside a game exhibition.
The contrast felt overwhelming.
Of course, there was absolutely no way Nino would admit she came here purely because she was accompanying Gojo.
If people misunderstood, then so be it.
Eventually, after nearly ten more minutes, it was finally their turn.
Yuuki finished purchasing her game first before stepping aside quietly.
Then Gojo walked up to the counter, with Nino standing closely beside him.
"Two copies, please."
The staff member smiled professionally, as he pick up the copies of the game before handing it over to Gojo, "Thank you for your patronage. That will be sixty thousand yen."
Nino immediately panicked, as she understand that he was buying it for her.
"Wait!" She quickly grabbed Gojo's sleeve, stopping him before he could even took out his money.
"Gojo-kun, I don't need one! I don't even play fighting games. There's no need to waste so much money."
Her expression became unusually serious, as she quickly tired to stop him.
Unlike Gojo, she didn't understand games much.
Buying one copy for Umaru already felt enough!
But Gojo simply rubbed her head gently with his free hand, "It's fine. If you don't want it, just give it to your sisters."
"But…"
Nino still looked hesitant.
Gojo calmly took out the money before handing it over the staff member.
"I've already paid. So don't overthink it."
Seeing his casual attitude, Nino finally gave up resisting.
"…Okay."
Though outwardly helpless—The smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden at all.
...
Meanwhile, nearby—
Konno Yuuki silently watched the interaction between the two.
Then she quietly looked away again.
She muttered something to herself softly before leaving with her game bag.
She was going to try out this game today!
...
If you'd like to support me and read chapters in advance, feel free to check out my:
Patr**on.com/Zero0000683
Discord:- NmKxzWGEPf
.....
Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
.....
Word Count — 1,633