It was as if someone had reached directly into his soul and stirred it around.
Gojo Satoru put down his teacup and walked up behind Tu Bai.
He didn't touch him; he just stood there and said softly, "I'll be mindful of boundaries from now on and won't touch you so casually."
Tu Bai's shoulders trembled.
Unless you allow it," Gojo Satoru added, "I will wait until you are ready.
Tu Bai didn't say anything, but his ears turned red.
---
The rain had stopped at some unknown time.
The light of the setting sun filtered in through the window, a golden-red hue, spilling across the Kitchen Floor.
Gojo Satoru suddenly sneezed.
Tu Bai looked back at him: "Still not better?"
Gojo Satoru rubbed his nose. "It seems.. I really have a cold."
Tu Bai frowned: "Can't you use Reverse Cursed Technique?"
Ah," Gojo Satoru blinked, "I forgot.
He raised his hand, a faint blue light shimmering at his fingertips, waved it in front of his nose. A few seconds later, he sniffed: "Done."
Tu Bai: ".."
This man is definitely doing this on purpose.
Gojo Satoru was fine, but he didn't leave. He sat down on the sofa, leaning back quite naturally, as if it were his own home.
Tu Bai came out after washing the pots and saw that he was still there, frowned: "Why haven't you left yet?"
The rain just stopped, it's still wet outside," Gojo Satoru said. "Stay for a while longer.
Tu Bai glared at him, but didn't ask him to leave again. He sat down at the other end of the Sofa, far away from Gojo Satoru.
The two fell silent for a while.
Gojo Satoru asked tentatively, "Then.. can we still go on missions together?"
Tu Bai turned his face away: ".. We'll see how you perform."
Gojo Satoru's eyes lit up, he immediately leaned in close: "How should I perform? Should I treat you to a month's worth of Dessert? Watch every horror movie with you? Or—"
As he leaned closer, Tu Bai could smell the scent of rainwater mixed with Ginger Tea on him.
Tu Bai raised his hand and pushed his face away: "Think for yourself, don't ask me."
Gojo Satoru smiled and sat back, but his eyes remained fixed on Tu Bai.
Outside the window, the setting sun had completely disappeared, leaving only a faint orange-red glow on the horizon.
The lights were not turned on in the Living Room, under the dim light, the silhouettes of both people were somewhat blurred.
"Xiao Bai." Gojo Satoru spoke again.
What now?
Can I still come tomorrow?
Tu Bai froze for a moment. "Come for what?"
I brought you breakfast," Gojo Satoru said. "Or.. accompany you while you review? Don't you have exams next week?
Tu Bai said nothing.
Gojo Satoru waited for a while, feeling a bit nervous—though he himself didn't even realize he was nervous.
Then Tu Bai said softly, ".. Whatever you want."
Gojo Satoru laughed, a very happy laugh.
He stood up: "Then I'll come tomorrow morning. What do you want to eat?"
Anything is fine.
Then Mango Pudding and hot milk," Gojo Satoru said. "I'm leaving, get some rest early.
He walked to the door and looked back once.
Tu Bai was still sitting on the Sofa, his face turned to the side, making his expression unclear.
"Goodnight," Gojo Satoru said.
.. Goodnight.
The door closed softly.
Tu Bai sat on the Sofa, motionless.
After a while, he stood up, walked to the Cabinet, looked at that Chibi Doll.
The Doll was smiling, holding a Kikufuku, looked very cute.
Tu Bai reached out and gently touched the Doll's face.
Then he sighed, put the Doll back in its place, turned to take a shower.
Chapter 22
After the reconciliation, life seemed to return to normal, but some things had changed imperceptibly. The dinner following the end of the mission was at a French Restaurant in Ginza that required a reservation.
The reservation Gojo Satoru made was by the window, offering a view of the streetscape outside. The lighting in the restaurant was dim, every table was lit with candles, just like a Candlelight Dinner that only couples would have.
Tu Bai sat opposite him, his eyelids twitching as he looked at the prices on the menu. Gojo Satoru, on the other hand, appeared quite accustomed to it, ordering Foie Gras, Steak, Lobster, a bottle of Red Wine that looked very expensive.
"To celebrating the successful completion of the mission~" Gojo Satoru raised his glass.
Tu Bai cooperated and clinked glasses with him, taking a small sip. The wine was mellow, but he had no appetite to savor it. He had been feeling very tired these past few days, lacking energy for anything he did; it was very strange.
When the appetizers were served, Tu Bai could still manage a few bites. But once the main course, Foie Gras, was brought out, the rich, greasy aroma drifted into his nose, he suddenly felt a surge of nausea in his stomach.
"What's wrong?" Gojo Satoru noticed his expression was incorrect and asked hurriedly.
"No.." Tu Bai had only managed one word before he hurriedly covered his mouth. Oh no, he was going to vomit.
He stood up abruptly, his chair screeching against the floor, then turned to rush toward the Bathroom.
Gojo Satoru froze for a moment, then put down his fork and followed him.
In the Bathroom, Tu Bai leaned over the sink, retching. He hadn't vomited anything, but he felt terrible, as if something were churning inside his stomach.
Gojo Satoru walked in, stood beside him, gently patted his back: "Did you eat something bad?"
Tu Bai shook his head, his face pale: "Maybe.. I've been too tired lately."
He turned on the Faucet to rinse his mouth, then looked up at himself in the mirror. His eyes were a bit red, his complexion was very poor.
Gojo Satoru frowned: "Your complexion hasn't been good lately. Go let Ieiri Shoko check you out tomorrow."
No need," Tu Bai said immediately. "It's just Gastroenteritis; taking some medicine will fix it.
Does Gastroenteritis make you vomit this much?
Yes," Tu Bai said, wiping his mouth. "My stomach has always been quite sensitive.
Gojo Satoru stared at him for a few seconds but did not insist further. The two returned to their seats, but Tu Bai could not eat anything else. Gojo Satoru called the Waiter over and had the remaining food packed to go.
On the way home, Tu Bai sat in the passenger seat, watching the night view outside the window. As the car drove through a traffic light intersection, he suddenly covered his mouth again.
Gojo Satoru quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Tu Bai pushed the car door open and squatted by the roadside, retching. He still couldn't vomit anything this time; it was just uncomfortable, his throat feeling tight.
Gojo Satoru got out of the car, knelt down beside him, placed a hand on his back: "Are you really sure you don't need to see a doctor?"
I really don't need to," Tu Bai panted. "I'll be fine once I go back and take some medicine.
Gojo Satoru said nothing, but his brow was furrowed deeply.
When he returned to the Apartment at night, the first thing Tu Bai did was rush into the Bathroom. He looked at himself in the Mirror for a long time, his hand resting on his Abdomen.
It was flat, with nothing there.
But he just had a feeling.. something was incorrect.
After stepping out of the shower, Gojo Satoru had already left, leaving takeout and a note on the table: [Reheat it before eating, go to sleep early.]
Tu Bai put the food in the refrigerator, then sat on the Sofa and took out his Mobile Phone.
He hesitated for a moment, opened the Browser, typed into the Search Box: "Causes of Male Vomiting".
Many answers popped up: Stress, Gastroenteritis, Food Poisoning, Motion Sickness..
Tu Bai scrolled down and saw a term: "Morning Sickness."
His Finger stopped.
Then he laughed, shook his head, closed the Browser.
How could that be?
He is a man, besides.. he and Gojo Satoru haven't actually done anything together.
It was just his Back being touched.
Tu Bai tossed his Mobile Phone aside and lay down on the Bed. He closed his Eyes, but his Brain was a mess.
---
Over the next week, Tu Bai's state became increasingly Incorrect.
On Monday afternoon during Classical Literature Class, he fell asleep with his head on his desk. When the Professor reached the passage regarding Kaoru and Ukifune in The Tale of Genji, he tapped the Blackboard: "The classmate with black hair in the back, come and explain the metaphor in this section."
The Classmate next to him nudged Tu Bai.
Tu Bai suddenly jolted awake and stood up, his brain a complete blank.
"I.." He opened his mouth, but could say nothing.