.. Mm.
The two walked side by side down the street. Ginza was crowded with people on the Weekend, Gojo Satoru naturally walked on the outer side, shielding Tu Bai on the inner side.
After walking for a while, Tu Bai couldn't help but ask, "Why did you say 'it's a date' just now?"
Is it not?" Gojo Satoru countered. "Two people eating together, chatting, sharing secrets—is that not what a date is?
"That's.. that's.." Tu Bai could find no words to refute him.
And besides," Gojo Satoru said, tilting his head to look at him, "your heart rate sped up when I said it.
Tu Bai froze: "How did you know?"
The Six Eyes can see the flow of energy," Gojo Satoru smiled, "including the tiny fluctuations in Cursed Energy caused by a heartbeat.
.. Pervert.
Thanks for the compliment~
Tu Bai fell silent. His heart had indeed quickened—when Itadori asked if it was a date, when Gojo Satoru said "yes." But he didn't know why himself.
Maybe it was because.. of nervousness? Or the fear of being misunderstood?
But it seemed like it wasn't just nervousness.
Gojo Satoru suddenly stopped in his tracks. Tu Bai stopped along with him, looking up at him.
Xiao Bai," Gojo Satoru said, his voice lower than usual, "do you really think we are just partners?
.. Then what else?
Gojo Satoru did not answer. He looked at Tu Bai for a few seconds, then smiled, returning to his usual lazy tone: "True. A partner is quite good."
He turned around and continued walking.
Tu Bai stood where he was, watching his retreating figure. For some reason, he felt as if Gojo Satoru had seemed a bit.. disappointed just now?
He chased after him.
The two did not speak again for the rest of the way. Gojo Satoru saw Tu Bai to the bottom of the apartment building. Tu Bai said "Thank you" and turned to head upstairs.
"Hey." Gojo Satoru called out to him.
Tu Bai looked back.
There is a mission next Wednesday, a Special Grade Cursed Womb. Gather at the usual place," Gojo Satoru said. "Don't be late.
Understood.
Gojo Satoru watched him for a while, then suddenly reached out and ruffled his hair. "Let's go."
He turned around, shoved his hands into his pockets, strolled away.
Tu Bai stood at the entrance of the stairwell, only after Gojo Satoru's silhouette disappeared around the street corner did he turn to head upstairs.
He touched his hair, where the warmth of Gojo Satoru's palm still lingered.
---
Returning to the apartment, Tu Bai collapsed onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The phone vibrated. It was a message from Gojo Satoru.
[I forgot to mention, Mango Mousse really is your favorite. I'll take you again next time.]
Tu Bai stared at the message for a long time before replying with a 【Mm】.
He thought of that sentence Gojo Satoru had said again.
—"Do you really think we're just partners?"
Otherwise, what else could it be?
Tu Bai rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. His mind, however, uncontrollably replayed the scenes from today: Gojo Satoru's serious expression in the dessert shop, his gentle tone when speaking of Geto Suguru, finally, that somewhat disappointed look in his eyes.
No.
He shook his head, trying to shake those images from his mind.
Just partners. Just partners.
But even so, when he felt his own heartbeat, it was still racing a little.
---
Meanwhile, Gojo Satoru was walking home, wearing headphones.
His mind was also filled with the events of today.
Tu Bai's embarrassed expression when talking about the Carrot Mountain, his satisfied look while eating Mango Mousse, the determination in his denial when asked if it was a date.
Partners.
Pet.
A toy?
Gojo Satoru frowned. He actually didn't much like the word "toy." Toys get boring, they get thrown away. But for Tu Bai..
It seemed he would never tire of him.
Not only does it never get old, but I want to know more, want to see more, want to—
Halfway there, he suddenly remembered the "yes" that had blurted out of his mouth when Itadori asked, "Are you two on a date?"
Why did he say yes?
He didn't think at the time; he just answered instinctively.
Just like when Tu Bai denied it later, that bit of annoyance in his heart was also instinctive.
Gojo Satoru stopped in his tracks, stood by the roadside, took off his sunglasses.
His ice-blue Six Eyes looked somewhat dazed under the sunlight.
He seemed.. a bit unable to understand what he was thinking.
The phone vibrated; it was a message from Tu Bai: 【Send me the mission materials for next week.】
Gojo Satoru looked at this message for a long time, then he smiled.
Forget it, if he doesn't understand, then he doesn't understand.
Anyway, as long as the person is still by his side, that was enough.
He replied: 【I'll give it to you tomorrow. Go to sleep early.】
Then, he put his sunglasses back on, humming a tuneless song as he swayed unsteadily all the way home.
If you listened closely, that tune sounded a bit like the children's song "Elephant."
Author's Note:
----------------------
Chapter 11
On Wednesday afternoon, Tu Bai received another message from Gojo Satoru.
[Come to Jujutsu High. We're continuing practical combat training today. 3:00, same place as usual.]
Tu Bai sighed. He had originally planned to go to the library this afternoon to look up materials and write a report for the University of Tokyo. But Gojo Satoru's message was followed by an emoji—a rabbit being hit in the head by a Carrot—he stared at it for a few seconds before replying with 【Okay】.
It was five minutes to three when they arrived at Jujutsu High. Voices were already echoing from the training ground; it was Itadori's loud voice.
Fushiguro! Left! Left!
Got it!
Tu Bai pushed the door open and saw three students engaged in sparring. Itadori and Fushiguro were paired together, while Kugisaki was practicing alone on the other side, using a Hammer to precisely strike Nails. Gojo Satoru was sitting on a bench by the side of the field, writing something in a small notebook.
Yo, you're quite punctual." Gojo Satoru looked up, his sunglasses sliding down the bridge of his nose, "Come on, let's continue today.
Tu Bai walked over. "Do I have to be a sparring partner again?"
Of course~" Gojo Satoru closed his magazine and stood up. "We're changing the rules today. You three," he shouted to his students, "work together. The goal is to touch Tu Bai to win. If you touch him once, your homework for this weekend will be halved.
Itadori's eyes lit up: "Really?"
When have I ever lied to you?
Fushiguro whispered, "Often."
Megumi, I heard that.
Kugisaki walked over, carrying his Hammer on his shoulder: "Tu Bai-senpai, I'm sorry, there was just too much homework."
Tu Bai looked at Gojo Satoru helplessly: "Senpai.."
Go on, go on," Gojo Satoru said, pushing him by the back, "Let me see if you've made any progress lately.
Tu Bai was pushed into the center of the field. The three students spread out: Itadori was in front, Fushiguro circled to the left, Kugisaki was at the back right. The atmosphere was even more tense than last time—after all, it concerned their assignment.
"Begin!" Gojo Satoru shouted.
Itadori was the first to rush forward, his speed even greater than last time. Tu Bai pressed his hands together, a Silver Light surged forth, performing a Construction of three intersecting layers of Metal Fence in front of him.
Itadori's fist slammed into the Metal Fence with a loud "clang." The fence deformed but did not break. He froze for a moment, while Tu Bai had already used the opportunity to retreat, simultaneously pressing his left hand toward the ground—countless vine-like Silver Chains emerged from the ground, coiling around Itadori's ankles.
"Whoa!" Itadori jumped up to dodge.
Fushiguro moved at this moment. He did not summon a Shikigami, but instead used his shadows to extend directly, surging across the ground like a black tide in an attempt to entangle Tu Bai's shadow.
Tu Bai lifted his foot and performed a Construction to create a disc beneath him, elevating himself half a meter above the ground and breaking free from the floor. The shadow attack missed.
"Kugisaki!" Fushiguro shouted.
Kugisaki launched a surprise attack from the right, his Hammer whistling through the air as he swung. Tu Bai dodged to the side, his right hand performing Construction to create a small circular shield to block the strike, while his left hand simultaneously pointed toward the ground beneath Kugisaki's feet—a small swamp trap instantly formed.
Kugisaki reacted quickly, slamming the Hammer against the ground to use the momentum to leap back, but the soles of his shoes still became coated in Silver Slime.
"Tsk!" He kicked his foot.
Gojo Satoru watched from the sidelines, having pulled out that small notebook again at some point, reading and taking notes simultaneously. His eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, glimmered faintly.