After a while, Gojo Satoru sent another message:
[Mei's contact card, tossed.]
Tu Bai stared at this message for a long time.
He typed a line of text: 【Why?】
He deleted it again.
The last reply was: 【Oh.】
Gojo Satoru did not reply again.
By the time the car arrived at the University of Tokyo, it was already evening. Tu Bai got out of the car, expressed his thanks to Ijichi, then hurried toward the Laboratory.
By the time the data issues were resolved, it was already eight o'clock in the evening. His mentor patted him on the shoulder: "Good work. It's thanks to you rushing back today."
"It's what I should do," Tu Bai said.
He walked out of the Laboratory, the night had already grown deep. There were several unread messages on his Mobile Phone, all sent by Gojo Satoru.
【The competition is over, Tokyo School won.】
Guess what? A Cursed Spirit showed up halfway through to cause trouble. It was a Special Grade, it even set up a veil.
[But it's settled, no problem.]
What are you doing?
The last one was sent ten minutes ago.
Tu Bai leaned against the wall, replying to them one by one.
【Just finished being busy.】
Cursed Spirit? Is it serious?
【Are you guys okay?】
Gojo Satoru replied instantly:
It's not serious, just a small problem.
What could be wrong with me~
【What about you? Have you eaten?】
Tu Bai only then remembered that he hadn't eaten dinner yet: 【Not yet.】
Gojo Satoru sent a photo of a lavish dinner set against the backdrop of a restaurant in Kyoto: [We are celebrating, you won't get to eat this~]
Tu Bai: ".."
Gojo Satoru sent another message: 【Just kidding, I saved some desserts for you. I'll give them to you when you get back.】
Tu Bai looked at this message, the slight feeling of frustration in his heart slowly dissipated.
He replied: 【Okay.】
Then, after thinking for a moment, he sent another message:
[I've put away Mei's Business Card, but I don't just take private commissions on a whim.]
Gojo Satoru took a moment before replying this time:
【Mm.】
Then, he sent another message:
[Get some rest early, see you tomorrow.]
Tu Bai looked at the words "See you tomorrow," and the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily.
【See you tomorrow.】
Chapter 18
On the third day after returning from Kyoto, Gojo Satoru said he would take Tu Bai to Jujutsu High to get some materials.
"What kind of materials?" Tu Bai asked.
Ieiri Shoko has finished organizing the data analysis from the Barrier you constructed last time," Gojo Satoru said over the phone. "There are also blueprints for a few Cursed Tools; see if you can replicate them.
Tu Bai agreed. Since he had no classes in the afternoon, he went to Jujutsu High.
The Campus was very quiet; at this time of day, the students should all be in class or training. Gojo Satoru was waiting for him at the entrance of the Teaching Building, dressed in the same way as always—white hair, small round sunglasses, a black Jujutsu High Uniform jacket draped casually over his shoulders.
Yo, you're right on time," Gojo Satoru waved. "Let's go, the documents are in the Principal's Office.
The Principal's Office?
Yaga said he wanted to give it to you personally," Gojo Satoru shrugged. "He probably just wants to see you.
Tu Bai was a bit nervous. Yaga Masamichi gave him the impression of being the serious, no-nonsense type of elder. Although he had seen him in the Kyoto Viewing Room last time, they hadn't spoken much.
The two of them went up to the Third Floor and walked to the door of the Principal's Office. Gojo Satoru knocked on the door.
"Come in," Yaga's voice came from inside.
Pushing the door open, he entered. The Principal's Office was large, the shelves against the wall were filled with all kinds of plushies, most of them semi-finished, some consisting of nothing more than skeletons. Yaga sat behind the desk, sewing the ear of a Panda plushie—Tu Bai recognized it as the Panda style.
"Yaga," Gojo Satoru greeted.
Yaga put down his needle and thread and looked up. His gaze first fell upon Gojo Satoru, then shifted to Tu Bai.
“Tu Bai-kun, sit,” Yaga said, pointing to the chair in front of the desk.
Tu Bai sat down. Gojo Satoru leaned against the wall beside him quite naturally, his hands tucked into his pockets.
Yaga took a folder out of the drawer and pushed it toward Tu Bai: "This is the Energy Analysis Report from your last Construction Barrier, along with the Design Drawings for several Special Grade Cursed Tools. Take a look; if there is anything you don't understand, ask Ieiri Shoko or Satoru."
Tu Bai took the folder and flipped through it a few times. The report was very detailed, recording even the minute changes in the Demon Power Patterns. The Design Drawings were also very complex; there were some structures he could not understand.
"Thank you, Principal," he said.
Yaga nodded, then looked toward Gojo Satoru: "You've rarely come to school lately."
Gojo Satoru smiled. "Just busy~"
Busy with what?
A mission, also bringing Xiao Bai along," Gojo Satoru said naturally. "He is very capable and has helped out a lot.
Yaga remained silent for a few seconds, then stood up: "Tu Bai, could you step outside for a moment? I need to have a word with Satoru."
Tu Bai froze for a moment and looked toward Gojo Satoru. Gojo Satoru nodded to him: "Wait for me in the Corridor, it won't be long."
.. Okay.
Tu Bai walked out of the Principal's Office holding the folder and quietly closed the door. The Corridor was very quiet, the faint sounds from the distant Training Ground could be heard. He leaned against the wall and opened the folder to continue reading.
Inside the room, Yaga walked back to the Desk, placed both hands on the surface, looked at Gojo Satoru.
"You know the Higher-ups are watching him," Yaga said, getting straight to the point.
The smile on Gojo Satoru's face faded slightly. "Oh?"
His identity won't withstand an investigation," Yaga said. "Not from a formal background, a Grade 1 who suddenly appeared, his Cursed Technique is so unique.. People have already proposed re-examining his files.
Then let them investigate," Gojo Satoru said in a relaxed tone. "I made Xiao Bai's file perfectly; they won't find any problems.
What if they investigate his race?" Yaga stared at him. "You know what I'm talking about. He isn't human, right?
Gojo Satoru said nothing. His eyes behind the sunglasses revealed no emotion.
I can see it, Utahime can see it, that old fox Gakuganji is definitely suspicious as well," Yaga continued. "It's just that no one dares to move against him right now, because he is your person.
So?
So you'd better think this through," Yaga's voice was low. "Satoru, you never used to trouble yourself with things like this. A non-human Sorcerer—in the past, you would have found him interesting at most, played with him for a few days, then tossed him aside. But now..
He paused for a moment. "You've been turning down many long-distance missions lately just to stay in Tokyo. You even take him with you whenever you go to Kyoto. You even publicly defended him at the Higher-ups' meeting."
Yaga looked Gojo Satoru straight in the eye: "Is he that important?"
Gojo Satoru fell silent for two seconds.
Then he said, "Mm."
It was just one word, but his tone was very serious.
Yaga looked at him for a long time before finally sighing, "I understand."
So?
So I will help," Yaga said. "But as for his identity, we will hide it for as long as we can. You should prepare yourself as well, just in case we can't hide it anymore..
Then we show our hand," Gojo Satoru said. "I'll protect him.
Yaga shook his head: "You can protect him for a moment, but you can't protect him for a lifetime. Those old fossils in the Jujutsu World—"
I can protect them," Gojo Satoru interrupted him, his voice calm. "If I say I can, then I can.
The air fell silent for a few seconds.
Yaga finally nodded: "Fine. Then be careful out there."
Gojo Satoru smiled, the grin returning to his face: "Thanks, Yaga~"
He turned to leave, but Yaga called out to him again: "Satoru."
Hmm?
Be a little kinder to him," Yaga said. "That kid looks like.. he's having a hard time.
Gojo Satoru paused for a moment, but he didn't turn around, merely waving a hand: "I got it."
He opened the door, Tu Bai was standing in the Corridor, looking down at the documents with great focus.
"They're gone," Gojo Satoru said.
Tu Bai looked up and closed the folder: "Are the discussions finished?"
Yeah." Gojo Satoru wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Let's go, I'll treat you to something delicious~