Morning mist draped the stone path outside the hot spring inn like a delicate veil, while sunlight gilded the eaves with a golden glow.
The sorcerers stood in a relaxed line outside, waiting for Gaio to show up.
Gojo Satoru crouched on the ground, rice dumpling crumbs clinging to the corners of his mouth.
He waved the half-eaten bamboo skewer in his hand, shouting back, "Yo—Gaio's not oversleeping, is he? If he doesn't hurry up, I'm gonna scarf down all these specialty mochi!"
Before anyone could respond, he chomped into a strawberry daifuku, cheeks puffed as he mumbled, "Man, the red bean paste here is top-tier!"
Nissha Kanji clutched a brick-thick law book. "The legal code here is completely different from ours."
Megumi Fushiguro leaned against a brick wall, dozing lightly, his sea-urchin hair swaying as Yuji Itadori bustled about like a walking souvenir stand. Yuji's neck was draped with arcade tokens, a Sweet Mask folding fan hung from his waist, and his pockets bulged with snacks, his hands overflowing with gift bags.
"Megumi! Think I got enough stuff? I hope Nobara likes this 'Sweet Mask' merch. And these snacks—hope there's enough to share!" Yuji fretted, feeling like he hadn't bought enough.
"Idiot, you're too loud," Megumi muttered, not even lifting an eyelid.
Maki, hoisting her Soul-Release Blade, strolled between them with a smirk. "No matter how much you buy, it won't fill Panda's stomach."
Gojo swallowed the last bite of daifuku, licking the red bean paste off his fingers, and squinted at the rising sun. "Jeez, when's Little Tian-Tian gonna get up? Should we send someone to wake him?"
He twirled the skewer and poked Yuji. "You go."
"Huh?! Me? I'm still sorting my souvenirs!" Yuji yelped, holding up his bags to shield his face.
"Nissha?"
"Per legal statutes, entering someone's room without permission incurs liability," the law nerd replied without looking up.
Maki snorted. "Why doesn't the 'strongest' go himself?"
"What a nice day!" Gojo laughed, dodging the question, his gaze drifting to a closed second-floor window.
The group silently stepped back. No way they were volunteering.
Suddenly, the screech of tires on stone broke the stalemate. Twelve black sedans rolled in like a flock of geese, doors swinging open in unison. Dozens of black-suited figures formed a precise line, and the lead woman bowed as she opened the door of the second car.
"Morning, everyone!" Fubuki stepped out gracefully.
Her beige knit cardigan and denim shorts made her look like a typical college girl—if you ignored the prime-minister-level security detail behind her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
She walked up to the group with light steps.
"Just leave the luggage there," she said with a nod to the suited man pushing her suitcase. Turning to the stunned sorcerers, she winked. "So, when do we head out?"
Gojo's face lit up at Fubuki's arrival. He stood, flicking his fingers, and a beautifully packaged box of strawberry daifuku floated out of Yuji's souvenir pile, landing neatly in his hand.
"Fubuki-chan, wanna try one?" he teased, waving the box. "Yuji waited two hours in line for these."
"Hey! That's for Nobara—" Yuji's protest was cut off as Megumi clamped a hand over his mouth.
Before Fubuki could answer, Gojo, ever the drama queen, launched into a performance.
Slumping his shoulders, he sighed theatrically. "Little Tian-Tian's still snoozing~ We were supposed to head back already."
He leaned toward Fubuki, lowering his voice. "That guy? We don't dare mess with him. Otherwise—" He flailed his arms, mimicking sword slashes with "swish swish" sound effects. "He'd chop us into pieces, and we'd have nowhere to cry about it."
Grinning mischievously, he pointed subtly at the second-floor window. "But if Fubuki-chan went to wake him…"
Fubuki's cheeks flushed. Her mind conjured an image: Gaio in the morning light, tangled in messy sheets, his T-shirt slipping to reveal a glimpse of toned abs, his sleepy, husky voice mumbling, "Five more minutes…"
"N-No way! I'm not that close with Mr. Gaio!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically.
"Oh? But last time, didn't Little Tian say he's got a thing for you and wants to—"
Creak. The inn's wooden door swung open.
Gaio, in a baseball jacket, stepped out yawning.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said, rubbing his hair. His eyes landed on Fubuki, and a smile spread across his face. "…Morning?"
Fubuki, still blushing, greeted him shyly. Gojo's demeanor flipped the second Gaio appeared. "Yo, Little Tian-Tian, you're finally up! We've been waiting forever~"
He slinked toward Gaio like a noodle, hands reaching to cup his face. "Little Tian-Tian, gimme a hug—"
Gaio's smile vanished. His right hand shot up, smacking Gojo's face with a firm thwack. "Get lost."
With a clean shove, the "strongest" sorcerer flopped to the ground like a discarded rag doll. Gojo turned his head, dramatically biting a handkerchief—complete with fake snowflake effects fluttering around it, like some abandoned kabuki actress.
The sorcerers barely blinked at the scene. Maki stepped over Gojo's legs, and Megumi's sea-urchin hair didn't even twitch.
Gaio walked straight to Fubuki, who was still blushing. "Kept you waiting. Ready to go?"
"Y-Yeah!"
Gaio chuckled, turning as the Yama Blade appeared in his hand.
He drew the blade, carving two intersecting blue slashes in the air, forming a cross-shaped portal that slowly expanded.
"Let's go." He extended a hand to Fubuki, the sunlight breaking through the clouds and gilding his eyelashes.
The moment felt almost too dreamy. Before she knew it, Fubuki had placed her hand in his. The instant their fingers touched, Gaio's gentle grip sent her heart racing.
"Let's move," he said, stepping toward the portal without looking back, though he slowed his pace to match hers.
Gojo sprang up with a carp-like flip, hands in his pockets. "Alright, team, time to head home!"
As the portal's blue light flickered, Fubuki felt the world spin like a kaleidoscope. The dewy scent of the stone path gave way to the grassy aroma of tatami.
She stumbled slightly, finding herself in a reception room with gold-embroidered cushions, a dry rock garden visible through the sliding doors.
"This is…?" Before she could finish, Gaio yanked her wrist, pulling her to the side.
She staggered, and just then, Gojo bounced out of the portal, landing exactly where she'd been standing.
"Phew, finally back!" Gojo stretched, about to say something when—
A white blur shot toward him at blinding speed. He instinctively raised a hand. "Repel!"
Clang! A metallic ring echoed through the room.
Gojo realized his cursed energy was cut off, unable to activate any technique.
The white blur smacked onto his face.
In the split second before his vision was smothered by soft fabric, he caught Gaio casually looking away, as if it was none of his business.
"Rawr!" A high-pitched growl came with a sharp sting on his scalp.
Gojo flailed, trying to pry off the "attacker." His Six Eyes locked onto a pair of blue, crystal-like, adorably clueless eyes—a white-haired loli with purple-tipped locks clung to his head like a koala, her tiny fangs sunk into his scalp.
"Let go, you little gremlin!" He tugged at her, but the pint-sized creature's grip was stronger than a special-grade cursed spirit.
"Megumi! Use your Ten Shadows to get this kid off—ow, ow, OW!"
The loli bit harder, mumbling incoherently, "…Bad guy… intruder…"
Fubuki's wide eyes reflected the absurd scene—the "strongest" white-haired sorcerer flailing with a tiny, clawing figure plastered to his face.
Pfft. Maki was the first to crack up, followed by Yuji's choked laughter.
"Kanna!" A cheerful voice called from the corridor. Marin Kitagawa jogged into view.
She tiptoed up and poked the loli's puffed cheek. "He's not a bad guy, silly. Get down!"
Kanna blinked her blue eyes, then pop—she let go, sliding down Gojo's head like a nimble tree frog. Before hopping off, she smeared a shiny streak of drool across his white hair.
"You can't just bite people!" Marin pulled out a handkerchief, wiping Kanna's face while muttering, "Who knows if what you bit was clean?"
"I heard that," Gojo grumbled, pinching his sticky hair. "Marin, since when did you guys have a kid around?"
Marin ignored him, tossing the handkerchief aside and launching herself at Gaio like a swallow. "Darling!"
Gaio let go of Fubuki's hand, opening his arms to catch his girlfriend's flying hug.
The force of Marin's tackle made him wonder if she'd knock herself out.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a loud smooch on his cheek. "Welcome home~"
Fubuki froze, her fingers still curled from where Gaio had let go.
She watched Marin nuzzle into Gaio's neck, saw his hand naturally rest on her slim waist, and her ears buzzed.
(Darling?)
(What am I, then?)
(Just part of your little game?)
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