The words "go to hell" carry significant weight for most Westerners raised with Christian values.
The teenagers, suppressed by sheer physical presence, looked as though they were fuming but dared not speak. Jones, the girl in the lead, was furious, but after getting a clear look at Gojo Satoru's face, she forced herself to restrain her temper.
"It's Professor Gojo."
Since this assistant professor was quite famous, she had audited his classes before and even harbored a bit of a crush on him. Moreover, in such a prestigious institution, faculty members were always accorded respect, regardless of a student's family background.
However, sticking to the matter at hand, Jones argued sullenly, "Don't you think those words are a bit much, Professor? We never laid a hand on her..."
Gojo Satoru wagged a finger. "Student, it seems your comprehension skills need some work."
"Come, repeat after me—B-U-L-L-Y. Do you know what that means?"
"Bullying doesn't just refer to physical harassment; verbal harm counts just as much. Without a shred of concrete evidence, you've been loudly claiming this child stole a notebook and launching personal attacks. That is more than enough."
Jones interjected anxiously, "Miyano was the only one left in the classroom! She's the only one who could have stolen it!"
"You could have easily checked the classroom surveillance to bring the truth to light, yet not one of you mentioned it. Or is it... Student, that you don't actually care about the 'facts,' and just wanted a random excuse to cause her trouble?"
Jones froze, stammering, "No, I..."
Gojo Satoru stepped closer to the tall, freckled boy who had been jeering earlier. "It's so hot today; isn't it a bit inappropriate to be wearing such a thick coat?"
The boy's breath hitched.
Sensing his guilt, Jones didn't hesitate to demand he take off the coat. Sure enough, she found her notebook hidden inside.
"It was you?!"
The boy hung his head, completely stripped of his earlier bravado. According to him, he had done it on a momentary impulse and, fearing Jones would hate him if she found out, decided to pin the blame on the "invisible" Shiho Miyano.
"..."
With the truth revealed, the onlookers had varied expressions. Only Gojo Satoru spoke in an exaggerated tone: "Bullying plus framing... how terrible. If word of this reached the Dean's office..."
Jones bit her lip and quickly dragged her lackeys to bow and apologize to Shiho Miyano.
"Sorry, Miyano-san. We... we misunderstood you."
Gojo Satoru glanced at the slightly stunned girl behind him. "Miyano-san, what's your take?"
Shiho Miyano quickly regained her usual unperturbed state, her voice cool. "I only hope that in the future, their heads can hold something useful besides water."
Gojo Satoru burst out laughing.
The group, afraid she would pursue the matter further, didn't dare show resentment. Just as they were sighing in relief after apologizing and promising never to bother her again, the handsome white-haired man gave a thin smile.
"While Miyano-san hasn't said much, as a teacher who educates and nurtures... I still have to give you a little lesson to help your memory."
"How about this? I'm not a monster~ write a 100,000-word self-reflection essay for me, and we'll call it even."
"One... 100,000 words?!"
That was way too much! Writing that would literally send them to hell from exhaustion!
"Don't think about using a ghostwriter. I can track your handwriting quite easily."
The group looked at each other. Fearing the consequences of making a scene and knowing Professor Gojo wasn't someone to mess with, they dejectedly agreed.
After the ordeal ended, Shiho Miyano bowed to Gojo Satoru in gratitude. In her two years abroad, she had felt the kindness of others occasionally, but those who actually stepped in to help were few and far between.
While she had heard of this popular professor, she hadn't known much about him and hadn't expected him to stand up for her.
[Ding! Impression Points from story character Shiho Miyano +800. Analysis: Friendly.]
She expected Gojo Satoru to leave, but to her surprise, he unceremoniously sat down across from her with his tray piled high with food.
...Even for an adult man, this appetite is terrifying.
"Being fellow Asians, I feel a sense of kinship seeing you, Miyano-san." The uninvited Gojo Satoru propped his cheeks in his hands. "As the saying goes, food tastes better when eaten together. Don't you think?"
"I think..."
Shiho Miyano hesitated. Looking into those blue eyes that seemed to see through one's very soul, she somehow found herself unable to refuse.
Did Professor Gojo realize she was being isolated and...?
"Waa! This pizza is delicious~" Gojo Satoru's cheeks were puffed out, a look of pure bliss on his face. "It's not bad eating at the cafeteria with a 'meal buddy' once in a while."
He's not listening at all! And what even is a 'meal buddy'?!
Shiho silently ate her rice.
"By the way, if they bully you again, remember to tell me."
At that moment, the serious look in Gojo's eyes warmed her heart.
"I understand..."
Strangely, she felt the security of having a mature adult standing behind her.
"Speaking of which, you're quite forgiving, Miyano-san, letting those brats off so easily." Gojo Satoru hummed. "If it were me..."
Actually, the 100,000-word essay is pretty scary...
"If it were you?" Shiho couldn't help but ask.
Gojo Satoru, who had been acting every bit the professional teacher, laughed. "I'd at least make them kneel and beg for mercy in tears for three days and nights."
"..."
You'd definitely be fired for that!
[Impression Points from Shiho Miyano +200.]
Shiho Miyano had a gut feeling—this Professor Gojo was completely different from the personality she had imagined. Over the next six months, this realization only grew clearer.
Wanting to seize the chance to fleece her points, Gojo Satoru's frequency of visits to the school increased significantly. However, to avoid looking like a "creepy guy" eyeing a little girl (?), he didn't eat with her too often, occasionally just sitting down for a chat.
Even so, the results of the half-year were 2,000 Impression Points. Compared to her initial silence and wariness, Shiho was now clearly relaxed around him, sometimes even voicing her internal snark without filter.
Before they knew it, the sweltering summer turned into a quiet winter. A corner of the campus was covered in a thick, soft blanket of snow. Students had changed into winter clothes, their cheeks flushed red from the cold, their breath turning into white mist.
Gojo Satoru once again topped the "Favorite Assistant Professor" list—by his face, no, by his genuine talent.
Currently, he was lounging lazily under a tree, watching a group of students on break having a boisterous snowball fight.
"Professor Gojo, what are you thinking about?"
Shiho Miyano, wearing white earmuffs, looked like a fluffy rabbit. She was used to seeing Gojo lying around and waved a hand in front of his eyes.
Over the past six months, fearing the Organization might notice Gojo Satoru and harm him, she had tried to distance herself. But the professor didn't seem to care, treating her exactly the same as always. After confirming the Organization hadn't issued any warnings, she set her worries aside.
Despite the age gap, they were truly "mentor-friends."
Gojo Satoru looked at her, his expression suddenly grave, giving Shiho a start.
"I'm thinking..."
The russet-haired girl realized something and gave him a classic "half-moon" look.
"...Whether matcha ice cream or vanilla ice cream tastes better?"
"...Don't think about eating ice cream in the middle of winter."
Sometimes, Shiho Miyano felt that compared to her, Gojo Satoru was the one who acted more like a child. Perhaps that was why they could communicate so effortlessly.
"But snowballs look exactly like ice cream scoops." Seeing the people fighting in the snow, Gojo got an inspiration. "Miyano-san, want to build a snowman together?"
"A snowman?" Shiho wanted to pretend she wasn't interested, but failed.
Gojo Satoru rolled a snowball with force, each rotation making it firmer until it was large enough for the body. Next, Shiho carefully constructed the head, patting the snow with a borrowed shovel to ensure the shape was perfect before placing it atop the body.
The prototype of a cute snowman was born. Shiho took off her own scarf to wrap around it, staring at it for a long time with the genuine joy and satisfaction of a ten-year-old, a sincere smile on her face.
"Not bad."
Gojo Satoru pulled a pair of sunglasses from his pocket and perched them on the snowman's "nose."
"How about it? Doesn't it look as handsome as me now?"
"...It's not cute at all anymore!"
Shiho Miyano turned her head away, huffing. She was just thinking of adding some nice decorations when she heard Gojo Satoru speak:
"Miyano-san, I'm resigning."