The two of them headed downstairs. As they reached the entrance of the Teaching Building, Tu Bai couldn't help but ask, "What did the principal just.. say?"
Gojo Satoru turned his head to look at him, then reached out and rubbed his hair: "Let me take good care of you."
Tu Bai frowned and brushed his hand away: "I'm not a child.."
I know," Gojo Satoru said, his voice suddenly dropping a pitch. "You are Tu Bai, a Grade 1 Sorcerer, a University of Tokyo Student, someone who is afraid of Cursed Spirits but is a formidable fighter, someone who loves Mangoes but hates sourness, someone whose smile is very beautiful.
Tu Bai was stunned.
Gojo Satoru counted them so clearly?
He looked up at Gojo Satoru, Gojo Satoru was also looking at him; his sunglasses slid down slightly, revealing ice-blue eyes that appeared crystal clear under the sunlight.
So," Gojo Satoru smiled, "even without Yaga telling me to, I would still take care of you.
Tu Bai's ears felt a bit hot, so he averted his gaze: ".. Oh."
Gojo Satoru smiled as he withdrew his hand, the two continued walking toward the school gate.
---
Three Days Later, a Special Grade Mission.
The target was a troublesome Cursed Spirit that could split, parasitize, even absorb Cursed Technique energy. Gojo Satoru and Tu Bai chased it through the mountains for six full hours before finally trapping it in a Valley.
"Xiao Bai, on the left!" Gojo Satoru shouted.
Tu Bai pressed both hands against the ground, Silver Demon Power surging forth as he performed Construction to create a massive Mirror Wall on the left side of the Valley. An avatar split off from the Cursed Spirit slammed into the wall and was bounced back.
"There's one on the right too!" Tu Bai shouted.
Gojo Satoru teleported over, raised his hand, said, "Azure."
The Azure Light Orb shot out, crushing the clone on the right.
The Cursed Spirit's true body was hidden deep within the Valley, attempting to burrow underground to escape. Tu Bai closed his eyes, his Demon Power sensing everything at full capacity.
"Fifteen meters underground, directly below." he said.
Gojo Satoru pressed his hands together: "Hollow Purple."
The purple-black beam of light pierced through the ground, making the entire Valley vibrate. As the dust cleared, a bottomless hole was left on the ground, the Cursed Spirit's aura had completely vanished.
Tu Bai breathed a sigh of relief, his legs giving way as he nearly collapsed to the ground. Gojo Satoru flashed over to support him.
Are you okay?
My Demon Power is a bit overextended.." Tu Bai panted, "I'll be fine after a little rest.
Gojo Satoru helped him to a rock to sit down, then sat down beside him. The two were very close, shoulder to shoulder.
The setting sun dyed the Valley gold. In the distance, birds chirped, the wind rustled through the leaves.
Good coordination," Gojo Satoru said. "Your timing for the Construction of the Mirror Wall was perfect.
.. Senpai's 'Hollow Purple' was also very precise.
Of course~
The two fell silent for a while. Tu Bai felt his Demon Power slowly recovering, but his body was still very tired. He leaned against the rock and closed his eyes.
Gojo Satoru looked at him from the side. Tu Bai's profile appeared very soft under the setting sun; his eyelashes were long, his nose bridge was straight, his lips were slightly pursed. His hair was a bit messy, covered in dust and bits of grass.
Gojo Satoru reached out and plucked a blade of grass from his hair.
Tu Bai opened his eyes.
"There's grass," Gojo Satoru said, showing him the blade of grass.
.. Thank you.
Gojo Satoru smiled, tossed the blades of grass aside, stood up, reaching out to pull Tu Bai up. "Let's go, back to Tokyo. I've booked a restaurant to celebrate."
Tu Bai was pulled up by him: "A restaurant?"
Yeah, a high-end restaurant." Gojo Satoru blinked. "A candlelit dinner, you know~
---
The restaurant was located on the rooftop of a building in Roppongi, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire night view of Tokyo. The lighting inside was dim, with a candle lit on every table, creating a truly romantic atmosphere.
Tu Bai sat opposite Gojo Satoru, feeling somewhat uneasy. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers, Gojo Satoru had also changed his clothes—he wore a white suit jacket, without a tie, with two buttons undone.
"What would you two like to drink?" the Waiter asked.
Gojo Satoru flipped through the wine list: "Hmm.. this Peach Fruit Wine, I'll take a bottle, two glasses of water."
Coming right up.
Once the wine was served, Gojo Satoru poured a glass for each of them. The pale pink liquid swirled in the glasses, looking beautiful.
"To our first perfect cooperation," Gojo Satoru said, raising his glass.
Tu Bai clinked glasses with him and took a sip. The wine was very sweet with a strong peach flavor, had almost no alcoholic taste.
"It's good," he said.
Right~" Gojo Satoru smiled, "The fruit wine at this place is very famous.
The dishes were served one by one. Tu Bai didn't actually know much about French Cuisine, but every dish was delicious. While eating, Gojo Satoru introduced them to him, explaining what each sauce was and how each dish was prepared with great expertise.
"Do you come to places like this often, Tu Bai-senpai?" Tu Bai asked.
Occasionally," Gojo Satoru said. "After a mission is finished, or when I'm in a good mood.
In a good mood today?
Yeah." Gojo Satoru rested his chin in his hand and looked at him. "Completing a mission with Xiao Bai makes me feel especially good.
Tu Bai lowered his head to cut the Steak, his ears feeling a bit hot.
By the time he reached his second glass, Tu Bai began to feel dizzy. He had a low alcohol tolerance, although this Fruit Wine was sweet, it had a significant kick. He felt his cheeks heating up, he began to talk more.
Senpai," he said, "did you know? My childhood dream was incredibly silly.
Oh? What kind of dream?
I want to be a Carrot Farmer," Tu Bai said, laughing at his own words, "Just.. planting a huge field of carrots, watering them every day, weeding, then pulling them up to eat once they've grown.
Gojo Satoru also laughed: "Why carrots?"
Because I love carrots the most," Tu Bai said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Besides, carrots are easy to grow and don't die easily. Back then, I thought that if I couldn't become a Sorcerer in the future, I'd go grow carrots.
And then?
Then my big brother laughed at me," Tu Bai said, pouting. "He said, 'Er Bao, are you stupid? How much money can you make by growing carrots?' He even said I should become an architect because my Construction Technique is very well-suited for it.
Then you can start planting them now," Gojo Satoru said. "Use your Cursed Technique, you can have as many Carrots as you want.
Tu Bai's eyes lit up: "That's right!"
He raised his hand, intending to use Construction, but he was pressed down by Gojo Satoru: "Don't, we're in the dining room. Plant them when we get back."
Oh.." Tu Bai lowered his hands, but his eyes were still bright, "Then can I plant a whole Carrot Field? Right on the Apartment Balcony?
The balcony is too small.
Then.. the Rooftop?
You'll get a complaint from Property Management.
Then.." Tu Bai frowned, thinking very seriously, "Then I'll go to the Countryside to buy a plot of land!
Gojo Satoru laughed, "Fine by me. I'll provide the money, you provide the labor. You give me half of the Carrots you grow."
"Deal!" Tu Bai reached out his hand, Gojo Satoru high-fived him.
The two looked at each other and both smiled. Under the soft lighting of the restaurant, Gojo Satoru's ice-blue eyes appeared very gentle, Tu Bai's red eyes were also sparkling.
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit ambiguous.
Gojo Satoru looked at Tu Bai, Tu Bai looked at Gojo Satoru. Neither spoke, but neither looked away.
The waiter came over to serve the desserts, interrupting the gaze.
Tu Bai lowered his head to eat the dessert, his heart racing slightly. He stole a glance at Gojo Satoru, Gojo Satoru was also looking at him, a smile playing on the corners of his mouth.
“You look quite cute when you're drunk,” Gojo Satoru said.
.. I'm not drunk.
Your ears are red, you're still saying you're not drunk.
Tu Bai touched his ear; it was indeed very hot. He stopped speaking and focused on eating his dessert.
After finishing the meal, the two left the restaurant. The alcohol hit Tu Bai, making him stumble slightly as he walked. Gojo Satoru supported him and hailed a taxi.
In the car, Tu Bai leaned against the window and said dizzily, "Today was very happy.. Thank you, senpai."
Gojo Satoru turned his head to look at him. Tu Bai's face was still flushed, his eyes half-closed, his long eyelashes drooping, making him look very well-behaved.
Somewhere deep inside Gojo Satoru, his heart softened.
"I'll take you to eat delicious food more often in the future," he said, his voice very soft.
.. Mm.
The car drove to the bottom of the Apartment building. Tu Bai's legs went weak as he got out of the car, Gojo Satoru quickly supported him.
"Can you walk?" Gojo Satoru asked.
"I can.." Tu Bai said, but his entire body was leaning against Gojo Satoru.
Gojo Satoru wrapped his arm around his waist, half-carrying and half-supporting him as he led him downstairs. As the night wind blew in, Tu Bai shrugged his shoulders and pulled his neck in.
"Cold?" Gojo Satoru asked.
.. A little.
Gojo Satoru held him a little tighter. The two stood at the entrance of the stairwell, light shining down from above and casting overlapping shadows on the floor.
Let's go up," Gojo Satoru said. "Take a hot shower and get some good sleep.
Tu Bai nodded, but didn't move. He looked up at Gojo Satoru, his eyes slightly hazy: "Senpai.."
Hmm?
You.. why are you so good to me?