Dazai Osamu put his arm around Tu Bao's shoulder and waved to Gojo Satoru: "Well then, we're off. Gojo-san, come visit Yokohama next time~"
Sure.
Watching the two walk away, Tu Bai breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a bit tired as well. He turned his head to look at Gojo Satoru: ".. Sorry, my brother, he—"
Before he could finish speaking, Gojo Satoru's hand landed on his head, rubbing his hair.
The movement was natural, the pressure was light.
Tu Bai froze, but did not pull away.
Your brother is quite cute," Gojo Satoru said, his hand not moving away. "Even though he's a crybaby, he loves you very much.
.. Yeah.
So." Gojo Satoru looked down at him, his sunglasses sliding down slightly to reveal his ice-blue eyes, "I won't let him worry.
Tu Bai's heart skipped a beat.
Gojo Satoru withdrew his hand, put his sunglasses back on, returned to his usual lazy smile: "Let's go. The report is still at my house. Want to go grab it?"
.. Yeah.
The two of them walked toward Gojo Satoru's apartment. On the way, Tu Bai couldn't help but ask, "Why.. were you apologizing so seriously just now?"
Huh?
It was that time I bowed to my brother," Tu Bai said. "Unlike you.
Gojo Satoru didn't stop walking: "Because he is your family."
“So?”
So you have to take it seriously," Gojo Satoru said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Besides, he was crying so miserably; it would be too much if I kept joking around.
Tu Bai fell silent for a moment, then said softly, ".. Thank you."
“Don't mention it~”
When he arrived at the foot of Gojo Satoru's apartment building, Tu Bai's phone vibrated. He took it out to check; it was a message from Tu Bao.
[Er Bao, I think Gojo-san is actually quite a nice person. But the way he looks at you is a bit strange.. be careful. However, if you really like him, brother supports you!]
Tu Bai's hand trembled, his phone nearly slipped to the ground.
"What's wrong?" Gojo Satoru turned around.
".. It's nothing." Tu Bai stuffed his phone back into his pocket, the tips of his ears heating up again.
A strange look?
What does that mean?
He stole a glance at Gojo Satoru, who was currently pressing the elevator button, his profile appearing sharply defined under the corridor lights.
The elevator doors opened, Gojo Satoru stepped inside. Seeing that Tu Bai hadn't moved, he raised an eyebrow: "What are you dazing out for? Get in."
.. Oh.
Tu Bai walked into the elevator and stood beside Gojo Satoru. As the elevator doors closed, the two of them were the only ones in the cramped space.
After a few seconds of silence, Gojo Satoru suddenly said, "By the way, that Carrot House your brother mentioned.."
Don't you dare mention it!
But I want to see~
I don't have one!
Then perform a Construction now? Just a small one is fine~
No!
The elevator arrived. The doors opened, Gojo Satoru walked out with a smile, followed by Tu Bai, whose face had not yet cooled down.
He touched his hair, which had just been ruffled, that strange sensation in his heart seemed to grow even stronger.
---
And at this moment, on the train back to Yokohama.
Tu Bao leaned against Dazai Osamu's shoulder, still sniffing: "Dazai-kun, Er Bao really won't be alright, will he.."
He won't be fine." Dazai Osamu said, playing with his hair. "Although Gojo Satoru looks frivolous, he is quite serious.
How do you know?
Look at his eyes," Dazai Osamu smiled. "The way he looks at Tu Bai is different from the way he looks at me, you, or anyone else.
How is it different?
Hmm.." Dazai Osamu thought for a moment, "It's like finding an interesting toy, but being unwilling to break it. Instead, you just want to protect it carefully.
Tu Bao frowned: "So, is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Who knows~" Dazai Osamu looked at the scenery rushing past the window, "But you know, Bao'er.
Hmm?
Your brother is stronger than you imagine," Dazai Osamu said softly, "He can handle it.
Tu Bao fell silent for a moment, then nodded: ".. Yeah."
He believed in Er Bao.
At worst, he could just find time for another "surprise inspection" later.
Chapter 10
Tu Bai woke up at ten in the morning.
He grabbed his phone to check the time; there was an unread message on the screen from Gojo Satoru, sent at 7:30 AM.
[Your brother cried three times yesterday; I didn't even have enough tissues. Compensate me today by accompanying me to buy desserts.]
Tu Bai stared at the message for five seconds and sighed. He indeed felt that his brother had been a bit rude yesterday; although Gojo Satoru didn't seem to care, he was a Special Grade Sorcerer after all, so it would be better to apologize.
He replied with 【Okay】.
Gojo Satoru replied instantly: 【I'll send you the address. See you at twelve.】
---
The dessert shop was located on the Second Floor of a Commercial Building in Ginza. The interior was exquisitely decorated in white tones, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and greenery separating the seats. By the time Tu Bai arrived, Gojo Satoru was already there, sitting by the window wearing those small round sunglasses, looking down at his phone.
"Gojo-senpai." Tu Bai walked over.
Yo, you're quite punctual." Gojo Satoru looked up and smiled. "Sit.
Tu Bai sat down opposite him. A menu was already on the table, a thick volume filled entirely with French text and pictures.
"I've ordered a few signature dishes, see if there's anything else you want." Gojo Satoru pushed the menu over.
Tu Bai flipped it open, his eyelid twitched when he saw the prices. Even the cheapest item was 1,500 yen. He scanned it quickly and shook his head, "That's enough."
Then add a Mango Mousse as well," Gojo Satoru said to the Waiter, then looked at Tu Bai. "Your favorite.
".. That's not true," Tu Bai refuted instinctively.
You ate two servings last time in Kyoto.
“That was..”
That's it." Gojo Satoru rested his chin in his hand, his eyes curving behind his sunglasses. "I still remember how your eyes would light up and your ears would twitch when you ate.
Tu Bai was stunned. "You observe things that closely?"
Because it's interesting," Gojo Satoru said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "So, let's make a trade.
Exchange what?
A secret." Gojo Satoru leaned forward. "You tell me one of your secrets, I'll tell you one of mine. A fair trade.
Tu Bai frowned, "Why?"
Because I want to know more about you," Gojo Satoru said. "Besides, I was so honest when I apologized to your brother yesterday, so you should show some appreciation, shouldn't you?
.. What kind of honesty is that?
I was being very honest, okay?" Gojo Satoru tilted his head. "I rarely bow to people that seriously.
Tu Bai said nothing. He was indeed a bit surprised.
The Waiter [male] brought out the desserts. A three-tiered tray was filled with all sorts of exquisite pastries: Mont Blanc, Strawberry Cake, Chocolate Lava Cake, Fruit Tart, a Mango Mousse placed on a separate small plate, garnished with gold leaf.
Gojo Satoru pushed the Mango Mousse in front of Tu Bai: "Eat first, then think while you eat."
Tu Bai picked up a spoon and took a small bite. The sweetness melted in his mouth; it was indeed delicious. He couldn't help but take another spoonful.
"How is it?" Gojo Satoru asked.
.. Not bad.
Just not bad?" Gojo Satoru smiled. "Your eyes lit up just now.
Tu Bai lowered his head, his ears feeling a bit hot.
The two ate quietly for a while. Gojo Satoru finished off two cakes, while Tu Bai slowly ate his mousse. The sunlight from outside the window shone in, falling upon the tabletop, warm and cozy.
So," Gojo Satoru said, wiping the corner of his mouth, "have you thought of any secrets you want to tell me?
Tu Bai put down his spoon. He didn't really have any secrets to tell—or rather, Gojo Satoru already knew his biggest secret (his identity as a demon). As for the rest..
When I was a child," Tu Bai spoke, his voice a bit low, "my Demon Power went out of control once.
"Oh?" Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow with interest.
Probably.. around seven or eight years old," Tu Bai recalled. "Back then, I had just learned Construction Technique and couldn't control it well. One time, I got into an argument with my parents, in my anger, my Demon Power just exploded.
And then?
And then, once I snapped out of it," Tu Bai said, looking a bit embarrassed, "the entire mountain had turned into a Carrot field. Real Carrots, edible ones. They were packed densely together, stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to the summit.
Gojo Satoru froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.