What about the mission target?
Downstairs." Gojo Satoru pointed toward the floor below. "A Grade 3 Cursed Spirit, hiding behind the air conditioning unit. Go handle it; I'll keep watch here.
Tu Bai froze: "Just me alone?"
What else?" Gojo Satoru smiled. "A Grade 1 Sorcerer can't even handle a Grade 3?
.. I can handle it.
Then go ahead," Gojo Satoru waved, "Good luck, Tu.
Tu Bai glared at him and turned to head downstairs.
The moment the rooftop door closed, he heard Gojo Satoru's laughter.
---
The Cursed Spirit was very weak; Tu Bai bound it with constructed chains and exorcised it in just a few strikes. When he returned to the rooftop, Gojo Satoru was still standing in the same spot, typing on his phone.
"It's settled," Tu Bai said.
Mm." Gojo Satoru put away his phone, "Let's go. I'll take you back.
No need, I'll take the train..
I said I'll take you, so I'll take you." Gojo Satoru walked over and naturally draped an arm around his shoulder. "We can pick up a dessert on the way, too. I know a newly opened shop where the Puff is quite good.
Tu Bai was being led away by him; he tried to break free, but Gojo Satoru's grip was firm.
Senpai.
Hmm?
Can you not call me Tu?
Why?
.. It sounds terrible.
I think it sounds good," Gojo Satoru said. "And you don't actually hate it, do you? You're just embarrassed.
Tu Bai fell silent.
Gojo Satoru looked down at him: "Was I right?"
.. No.
Yes," Gojo Satoru smiled. "Your ears are red again. The skin at the base of your ears is flushed.
Tu Bai subconsciously touched his ear.
Gojo Satoru smiled even more happily.
They arrived home, as Tu Bai got out of the car, Gojo Satoru stuffed a bag of Puff into his hands.
See you tomorrow, Tu.
I don't have any missions tomorrow..
Then the day after tomorrow." Gojo Satoru waved his hand. "Anyway, see you next time.
The car drove away. Tu Bai stood at the door holding Puff, watching the receding vehicle.
The phone vibrated; it was a message from Gojo Satoru.
Remember to eat the Puff; it won't taste good if it sits out for too long.
Tu Bai replied with an "Mm."
He walked out of the station and headed toward the apartment. The streetlights came on, casting long shadows.
He thought that tomorrow, he would definitely protest even more resolutely.
Absolutely.
Chapter 9
Tu Bai indeed did not contact home this week.
It wasn't intentional; he was just busy. From Monday to Wednesday, he went on two missions with Gojo Satoru; on Thursday, he had to make up classes at Tokyo University; and on Friday, he was writing reports until three in the morning. He didn't know where he had lost his phone charger, by the time he found it, the screen had been black for three days.
He thought about calling his big brother again over the Weekend, but the doorbell rang on Saturday morning.
"Who is it.." Tu Bai rubbed his eyes as he opened the door, still wearing his pajamas—a black T-shirt and sweatpants—with his hair sticking out in all directions.
Two people were standing outside the door.
The one in front had small pink curls, a baby face, wide, round red eyes. Standing about 168 cm tall, he wore a light pink hoodie and jeans, carried a rabbit-shaped backpack. It was Tu Bao, his older brother.
The one behind him was taller, with black curly hair and iris-colored eyes. Bandages were wrapped around his face, he wore a beige trench coat, hands tucked into his pockets, watching him with a smiling gaze. Dazai Osamu, Tu Bao's.. boyfriend? Partner? Tu Bai wasn't quite sure what to call him.
Er Bao!" Tu Bao rushed forward to embrace him, his voice breaking with tears, "You haven't replied to a single message in a week! I couldn't get through on the phone either! I thought something had happened to you!
Tu Bai staggered a step from the force of the hug: "Brother, I'm fine, my phone just ran out of battery—"
If you're out of battery, couldn't you just borrow a charger!" Tu Bao looked up, his eyes already red, "Do you have any idea how worried I was? It's only a half-hour drive from Yokohama to Tokyo. I thought if I couldn't get in touch with you again today, I would.. I would..
You'll end up crying until every member of the Armed Detective Agency comes out to find me." Tu Bai finished the sentence for him, patting his back helplessly, "I'm really fine. Come on in first.
Dazai Osamu followed him into the apartment, curiously scanning the surroundings: "Tu Bai-kun's place is quite tidy~ It's much cleaner than Er Bao's room."
Dazai-kun!" Tu Bao glared at him, "How is my room messy!
Everywhere is messy." Dazai Osamu sat on the sofa with a smile and leaned back naturally. "Ah~ I've been running around all morning, I'm so tired. Tu Bai, do you have any coffee?
Only instant coffee.
Never mind then." Dazai Osamu waved his hand. "By the way, Tu Bai-kun, did you go to bed very late last night?
Tu Bai froze for a moment. "How did you know?"
Dark circles under your eyes." Dazai Osamu pointed to the area beneath his own eyes. "They aren't as severe as mine, but they're very obvious. And.." He twitched his nose. "There is a faint scent of Cursed Energy Residue in the air. Have you been on missions lately?
Tu Bai's heart tightened. Dazai Osamu's observational skills had always been terrifying.
Yeah, I took a few Grade 1 missions," he said briefly, heading to the kitchen to pour some water. "Brother, have you guys had breakfast yet?
We have.." Tu Bao followed him into the kitchen and lowered his voice, "Er Bao, tell me the truth, is someone bullying you?
“No.”
Then why haven't you been in contact with the family?" Tu Bao grabbed his wrist. "No matter how busy you were before, you would always send a message to let us know you were safe. There hasn't been a single one this week. Yesterday, Dad even asked me if you had started dating someone and had forgotten—
Tu Bai's hand jerked, the water nearly spilled.
We aren't dating," he said quickly. "It's just.. having a partner is quite troublesome.
Partner?" Tu Bao frowned, "That Gojo Satoru?
Tu Bai nodded.
Tu Bao's expression changed instantly, shifting from worry to vigilance: "Did he bully you? I knew it! Those high-and-mighty Special Grade Sorcerers definitely look down on people like us—"
He doesn't look down on me," Tu Bai interrupted. "Brother, you're overthinking it.
Then why—
The doorbell rang again.
Tu Bai's heart skipped a beat. At this time of day, there was only one person who would come to his apartment.
Tu Bao had already turned to open the door: "Who is it—"
The door opened.
Gojo Satoru was standing outside the door.
White hair, black sunglasses; he wasn't wearing a Jujutsu High Uniform today, having changed into a white hooded sweatshirt and black casual pants. He was carrying a paper bag, a Kikufuku Dessert Box was visible inside. He had probably just showered, as his hair was still a bit damp, with a few strands of white hair clinging to his forehead.
"Yo, Xiao Bai, I've finished revising the report—" Gojo Satoru stopped mid-sentence.
His sunglasses slid down a bit, revealing icy blue eyes from above the lenses. He looked at Tu Bao, who had opened the door, then at Dazai Osamu in the living room, finally at Tu Bai at the kitchen entrance.
Ah," Gojo Satoru said, "we have guests?
Tu Bao froze completely in the doorway.
He stared at Gojo Satoru, his eyes slowly widening, then he suddenly turned, pulling Tu Bai behind him in a movement so fast that even Tu Bai couldn't react.
Are you Gojo Satoru?" Tu Bao's voice trembled, but he struggled to straighten his back. "The Sorcerer who bullies my younger brother?
Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow. He pushed his sunglasses back into place, the corners of his mouth curling upward: "Oh? So you're that crybaby brother? Tu Bao, right? I've seen your file."
Who's crying!" Tu Bao's eyes grew even redder, but he endured it. "W-what did you do to my younger brother? He hasn't contacted the family all week, was it you—
Brother!" Tu Bai hurriedly interrupted, "It has nothing to do with Gojo-senpai, it was my own—
Don't speak up for him!" Tu Bao turned back and glared at him, tears finally falling. "Look at how much weight you've lost! Your dark circles are so heavy! You must have been exploited by him!
Tu Bai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I really haven't.."
Gojo Satoru stood at the doorway, neither entering nor leaving. His gaze passed over Tu Bao and met Dazai Osamu's in the living room.
Dazai Osamu leaned against the sofa, raised his hand, gave a wave with a beaming smile.
Gojo Satoru also smiled, but his smile was somewhat different from usual. Tu Bai couldn't quite put his finger on what was different, it was just.. a bit colder? Or rather, more vigilant.
Um," Gojo Satoru spoke, his voice returning to its usual lazy tone, "Can I come in first? Carrying these things is quite tiring.
Tu Bao refused: "No! You explain yourself first!"
"Brother.." Tu Bai wanted to persuade him, but Tu Bao stood firmly in his way.
Gojo Satoru sighed. He placed the paper bag in his hand onto the shoe cabinet by the door, then performed an action that surprised Tu Bai—he took off his sunglasses, stuffed them into his pocket, bowed to Tu Bao.
It wasn't just a casual nod, but a standard ninety-degree bow.
I'm sorry about what happened before," Gojo Satoru said, his voice more serious than usual. "During the mission, Tu Bai exhausted his Demon Power in order to protect me. It was my fault.
Tu Bao was stunned.
Tu Bai was also stunned.
As for this week," Gojo Satoru straightened up, his ice-blue eyes looking at Tu Bao, "we had two missions. Tu Bai is indeed very tired, but that was due to the requirements of the missions, not because I was intentionally exploiting him. He wrote his reports very well; I am here to deliver revision suggestions.