Tu Bai froze, the tip of his pen carving a streak across the paper.
.. Senpai.
Hmm?
Don't do this.
Why?" Gojo Satoru did not stop; instead, he intensified his actions, reaching out with his other hand to pinch his earlobe as well. "Are you uncomfortable?
Tu Bai's hair stood on end. The ears were an absolute forbidden zone, the earlobes were especially sensitive. He recoiled violently, bumping into the coffee table and nearly falling over.
Gojo Satoru withdrew his hand and tilted his head to look at him. "Such a big reaction?"
Tu Bai covered his ears, his face flushing deep red: "I.. I'm just not used to it."
Oh." Gojo Satoru nodded, then smiled, "Then you'll get used to it after a few more times.
He stood up, wrapped an arm around Tu Bai's shoulder, led him out. "It's signed. Let's go; I'll treat you to dinner."
Tu Bai was half-dragged out of the office by him. Gojo Satoru's arm was heavy as it rested on his shoulder, his body heat seeping through their clothes. Tu Bai felt incredibly uncomfortable, yet he did not dare to pull away.
Senpai, can I ask you a question?
Speak.
Are you.. doing this on purpose?
What do you mean, on purpose?
Touch me," Tu Bai said. "You know I'm not used to it, yet you keep..
Gojo Satoru stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at him. His sunglasses slid down to the bridge of his nose, revealing ice-blue eyes that were filled with amusement.
Yeah," he admitted readily, "because the way you react is so much fun.
.. Fun?
Yeah." Gojo Satoru put his sunglasses back on. "Just like teasing a real rabbit; it jumps the moment you touch it. So cute.
Tu Bai was speechless.
He felt that this person was beyond saving.
---
The third time was the most outrageous.
At eleven o'clock on Sunday night, Tu Bai had just finished showering and was preparing to sleep when his phone vibrated. He thought it was Gojo Satoru again, but when he picked it up to take a look, it was an emergency notification from the Mission Dispatch Division.
[Grade 1 Sorcerer Tu Bai, please proceed immediately to XX Street, Shinjuku Ward, to rendezvous with Gojo Satoru and handle an unexpected Cursed Spirit incident.]
The location is attached below.
Tu Bai frowned. This time, this location.. He quickly changed his clothes and headed out. When he arrived at the scene, he saw Gojo Satoru crouching by the roadside, playing with a stray cat.
Gojo-senpai?" Tu Bai walked over. "Where is the Cursed Spirit?
Ah, you're here." Gojo Satoru stood up and brushed the dust off his hands. "Cursed Spirit? Oh, I've already dealt with it on your way here.
Tu Bai froze: "Then why did you call me.."
Because it's boring to go back alone," Gojo Satoru said with a grin. "Accompany me for a late-night snack; I know a place nearby that has delicious Oden.
Tu Bai stared at him, a surge of frustration swelling in his chest.
Senpai," he said, word by word, "I have a major class tomorrow morning, I have a report to hand in.
What time?
Eight-thirty.
It's only eleven-thirty right now. After we finish late-night snacks and I drop you off, you'll still have six hours of sleep left." Gojo Satoru walked over and naturally draped an arm around his neck. "Let's go, let's go, it's on me.
Tu Bai was being dragged along by him, the small amount of anger in his heart slowly turning into a sense of helplessness.
This person simply wouldn't listen to anyone.
---
On Monday morning, Tu Bai went to school with dark circles under his eyes. After finishing his classes, he rushed straight back to his apartment, opened his computer, logged into the Jujutsu World Internal System, found the Application Adjustment form for mission partners.
He wrote down three reasons:
1. Busy with studies, scheduling conflicts.
2. Insufficient compatibility with Cursed Technique (made up).
3. Personal physical reasons.
Submitted.
The next day, it was rejected. Reason: Gojo Satoru is a Special Grade designation; no adjustment allowed.
Tu Bai filled out the form again, changing the reason this time:
1. I hope to gain experience working with different Sorcerers.
2. Incompatible personalities.
3. Requesting respect for personal wishes.
Submitted.
Rejected again. The reason remains the same.
For the third time, Tu Bai called the Mission Dispatch Division, his tone sincere: "I really can't continue working as Gojo-senpai's partner. Is there any way you can make an exception.."
The person who answered the phone was a female staff member, his voice very gentle: "Tu Bai, I understand how you feel. However, Gojo-san specifically instructed that all of your transfer requests must receive his approval. We are also in a difficult position."
Tu Bai hung up the phone and slumped into his chair.
In the afternoon, Ijichi arrived and stood at the apartment door, wiping away sweat.
Tu Bai-san.. Gojo-san said that if you apply for a transfer again, he will come to 'persuade' you personally." Ijichi handed over a folder. "This is the mission schedule for this week; you are still partnering with Gojo-san. On Wednesday afternoon, you will be clearing a Sewer Cursed Spirit Group, the location is..
"I understand." Tu Bai took the folder, having no strength left to be angry.
---
Wednesday, 2:00 PM, a sewer entrance in a certain ward in Tokyo.
There was a damp, foul stench in the air. Tu Bai wore a mask, but he still felt nauseated. Gojo Satoru, however, was quite at ease; he didn't even take off his sunglasses as he stood by the manhole, looking down into the opening.
Thirteen in total, all Grade 2, gathering down there to breed," Gojo Satoru said. "I'll go down and clear them out, while you stay up here and block the exits. There are six exits in this area, including three ventilation shafts; don't let them escape.
Tu Bai nodded and began constructing barrier nodes. Silver Demon Power seeped into the ground, spreading along the structure of the sewer and forming sealing barriers at each exit.
Gojo Satoru jumped down.
The sounds of fighting, the shrieks of Cursed Spirits, Gojo Satoru's lazy shouts of "Don't run" and "Stop right there" quickly drifted up from below. Tu Bai stood guard at the mouth of the well, maintaining the Barrier and reinforcing specific points whenever they were struck by an impact.
Everything went smoothly, until Gojo Satoru cleared the eleventh one.
Suddenly, a Cursed Spirit crawled out from another well opening—it was a maintenance hatch that Tu Bai had missed, one that wasn't marked on the map. The thing looked like a giant cockroach, covered in slime, lunged straight for Tu Bai's back.
By the time Tu Bai heard the sound and turned around, it was already too late to construct a defense.
His mind went blank, a purely instinctive reaction.
Demon Power went berserk.
It was not a conscious construction, but a stress-induced eruption born of panic. Silver Light exploded, condensing behind him into a wall—not an ordinary wall of cement or metal, but a wall of Carrots.
Giant, orange Carrots were stacked and interlaced, forming a Carrot wall three meters wide and two meters high. They were still topped with green carrot tops, a vibrant, lush green.
The Cursed Spirit slammed into the Carrot Wall, letting out a dull "thud." The carrots didn't break; they merely wobbled.
Tu Bai looked at this wall, stunned.
Gojo Satoru's laughter drifted up from below.
He jumped up from the well, carrying the remains of the last two Cursed Spirits in his hands, laughed even harder when he saw the Carrot Wall.
Hahaha—what is this?" Gojo Satoru walked over and poked the Carrot, "Is this for real? Can you eat it?
Senpai.." Tu Bai's face flushed red, "Don't touch it!
Why? Didn't you make this?" Gojo Satoru broke off a small piece, popped it into his mouth, chewed. "Mmm, it's sweet. Is it carrot-flavored candy?
Tu Bai wanted to die.
The things constructed when Demon Power goes out of control often reflect the objects most familiar or most desired in a Sorcerer's subconscious. It is quite reasonable that the Rabbit Demon is most familiar with Carrots, but being reasonable does not mean it isn't embarrassing.
Gojo Satoru laughed as he finished clearing away the remaining Cursed Spirits, then stood before the Carrot Wall, sizing it up.
Your Cursed Technique is truly adorable," he said. "Could you specialize in using Construction Technique for this in the future? It would be quite useful as an obstacle, it's edible too.
".. No." Tu Bai dissipated his Demon Power, the Carrot Wall vanished into silver light. He lowered his head to inspect the ground, ensuring no Cursed Energy Residue remained, then turned to leave.
"Wait." Gojo Satoru grabbed his wrist.
Tu Bai turned his head.
Gojo Satoru still had a smile on his face, his eyes behind the sunglasses curving into crescents. He naturally draped an arm around Tu Bai's shoulder, pulling him closer to his side.
To celebrate the successful cooperation," he said, "let's go get some dessert~ It's on me.
Tu Bai opened his mouth to refuse, but Gojo Satoru gave him no chance at all.
The surrounding scenery blurred.
It wasn't walking, nor was it driving; it was teleportation. After a brief dizziness caused by the warping of space, Tu Bai found himself standing on a bustling street. In front of him was an exquisitely decorated dessert shop, its glass display windows filled with various beautiful cakes and pastries. A sign hung at the shop entrance, written in French, which he could not read.
Gojo Satoru still had his arm around him, his tone full of pride:
The Mont Blanc at this shop is the best in all of Tokyo. Come on, I'll let you have a taste.
Tu Bai looked at the door of the dessert shop, then looked at Gojo Satoru's radiantly smiling profile.
He wondered when these days would ever end.
Author's Note:
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