His Voice grew fainter and fainter.
58 points.. just two points short.
Gojo Satoru looked at him, suddenly feeling a pang of heartache.
He reached out to stroke Tu Bai's hair, but Tu Bai dodged him.
"Don't touch me." Tu Bai stood up, walked back to the Bedroom, closed the door.
Gojo Satoru stood in the Living Room, scratching his head.
It's over.
It seems he is truly angry.
It wasn't the kind of anger that would be resolved with a simple kick; it was the kind of anger that stays bottled up in one's heart.
Gojo Satoru picked up his Mobile Phone and sent a Message to Ieiri Shoko.
[How do I coax someone who failed an exam?]
Ieiri Shoko replied instantly: 【?】
[Xiao Bai failed his exam and is in a bad mood.]
.. Are you serious?
[Serious.]
Ieiri Shoko fell silent for a few seconds, then replied with a long string of text:
[First, don't laugh. Second, don't say anything like "it's only a score of 58." Third, stay with him, but don't bother him. Fourth, buy some delicious food. Fifth, don't laugh. Most importantly, don't laugh.]
After reading it, Gojo Satoru put away his Mobile Phone.
He didn't laugh.
He only smiled once on Day 1.
Just once.
Gojo Satoru went to the Kitchen to heat a cup of Milk, then walked to the Bedroom Door holding it and knocked on the door.
Xiao Bai?
No response.
I'm coming in.
He pushed open the door. Tu Bai was sitting on the bed, holding a pillow, looking outside the window.
Gojo Satoru walked over, placed the milk on the nightstand, sat down beside him.
Xiao Bai.
Tu Bai did not look at him.
I was wrong," Gojo Satoru said. "I shouldn't have laughed at you on Day 1.
Tu Bai still did not look at him.
Regarding the makeup exam, shall I help you review?
Tu Bai's ears twitched.
"Really?" He turned back.
Gojo Satoru nodded: "Really. Even though I graduated a long time ago, the basics are still there."
Tu Bai looked at him, silent for a few seconds.
You promise not to laugh at me?
I promise.
So tell me, isn't it hilarious that I failed my exam?
The corner of Gojo Satoru's mouth twitched.
It's not funny.
Can you stop smiling when you say that?
I'm not laughing." Gojo Satoru pressed down the corner of his mouth. "I'm really not laughing.
Tu Bai stared at him for a few seconds, then buried his face in the Pillow.
You just think it's funny.
No.
Yes.
Gojo Satoru sighed, scooped him up along with the Pillow, pulled him into his arms.
Alright, alright, alright, I was wrong. I shouldn't have laughed. I was truly wrong.
Tu Bai struggled for a moment but couldn't break free.
Let me go.
No.
Gojo Satoru!
Call me hubby and I'll let you go.
Tu Bai looked up and glared at him, his Red Eyes glistening. After glaring for two seconds, he lowered his head again.
.. Hubby.
Gojo Satoru was stunned, then he laughed.
Good boy.
He released his grip and rubbed Tu Bai's hair.
When is the makeup exam?
Before the semester starts.
Then there is still time. I'll help you review.
Tu Bai nodded.
Can you eat something now?" Gojo Satoru asked. "You haven't eaten much for two days.
Tu Bai thought about it and nodded.
Gojo Satoru went to the Kitchen to reheat the food and brought it over. Tu Bai sat on the Sofa, eating slowly.
Halfway through his meal, he looked up at Gojo Satoru.
Senpai.
Hmm?
Do you really think a score of 58 isn't funny?
Gojo Satoru was silent for one second.
.. A little bit.
Tu Bai kicked him again.
But after that kick, he laughed.
Gojo Satoru saw him smile and smiled as well.
"It's good that you're smiling," he said.
Tu Bai glared at him and continued eating his breakfast.
---
Winter break has begun.
A lot has been happening in the Jujutsu World lately. After the Shibuya Incident, Ordinary People are no longer unaware of the existence of Cursed Spirits and Sorcerers. Related News is broadcast on TV every day, with all sorts of nonsense like "Cursed Spirit Disaster Warning Mechanisms" and "Response Plans for Ordinary Person Cursed Energy Awakening." The Jujutsu World Higher-ups have also been reshuffled; after Gojo Satoru came out, he dealt with those Old Oranges, now a new group of people is in charge.
But none of this had anything to do with Tu Bai. He still took missions as usual, occasionally went to Jujutsu High to lend a hand, spent the rest of his time staying at home.
Then he started playing the game.
It all started with Tu Bao. Dazai Osamu had recently become obsessed with an online game and had been dragging Tu Bao to play it with him. Tu Bao became addicted while playing, then he started dragging Tu Bai into it.
Er Bao! Come quickly! I can't beat this boss!
Tu Bai originally didn't want to play, but he couldn't resist Tu Bao constantly calling him to urge him on. He downloaded the game, registered an account, after entering, discovered that Tu was also there.
Second Brother, you're finally here," Tu said in the voice chat. "Eldest Brother has already died eight times.
You've only died eight times!" Tu Bao said indignantly, "I've clearly only died five times!
Tu Bai: ".."
The Three brothers plus Dazai Osamu, the four of them teamed up to clear the dungeon. It was Tu Bai's first time playing this kind of Game, his skills were terrible; he died several times. However, he was a fast learner and mastered it in just a couple of days.
And then he couldn't stop.
Every morning, the first thing he does upon opening his eyes is grab his Mobile Phone and launch the Game. He completes daily quests, takes on missions, clears dungeons. Tu Bao is even more crazed than him, often staying online even in the middle of the night.
"Brother, aren't you going to sleep?" Tu Bai asked in the voice chat.
I'll sleep after I finish this dungeon.
An hour later.
Brother.
One more.
Tu Bai was speechless.
Tu was much the same; there was a time difference with Italy, it was afternoon over there, which was the perfect time to play games. The Three brothers gathered together, chattering away, even more boisterous than during their childhood.
Gojo Satoru didn't pay much attention at first. While Tu Bai was playing games, he sat beside him reading documents, occasionally glancing at the Screen. "What is this?"
A Game.