Ms. Gojo thought she was dating an ordinary person's boyfriend.

After eating for a while, the atmosphere became increasingly warm and cozy.

Sumire Kichikawa picked up a strainer and patiently skimmed off the foam that had risen to the surface of the broth.

As the water bubbled, he seemed to remember something and casually asked, "Is your school usually very busy? Wu has been going home lately and keeps saying he has to catch up on reports."

"cough--!"

Yuji Itadori gasped, nearly being swallowed whole by a scalding hot piece of tofu.

Wild Rose's hand, which was about to pick up the konjac noodles, suddenly stopped in mid-air, the tip of her chopsticks hovering in the steam.

Fushiguro Megumi didn't say anything, but silently raised her dark green eyes and glanced at Gojo Satoru without leaving a trace.

Despite the students' chaotic reaction, Gojo Satoru remained remarkably calm.

He was looking down, scooping a shiitake mushroom soaked in broth from the pot, his face, clad in sunglasses, showing no sign of guilt.

Fushiguro Megumi quickly averted her gaze, calmly covering up her reaction: "Yes. Teachers often have to deal with unexpected situations."

"Yes, yes, yes! There are so many unexpected situations!" Hisahito Itadori nodded quickly.

Wild Rose forced herself to add, trying to make the excuse sound more like a legitimate school: "Especially... off-campus activities... well, our off-campus activities are quite complicated and time-consuming."

Kikawa Sumi looked at them thoughtfully, seemingly processing the information. A hint of understanding and heartache appeared in her gentle eyes: "No wonder. He sometimes comes home really late."

"There's nothing I can do about it." Gojo Satoru smoothly picked up the conversation, a matter-of-fact smile playing on his lips, his tone carrying a familiar air of pride. "Popular teachers are always busier; they need me everywhere."

Megumi Fushiguro retorted expressionlessly, "Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what it means to be popular?"

Wild Rose added sarcastically, "Being mentally complained about a hundred times a day by students should be considered a sign of popularity, right?"

Gojo Satoru protested, drawing out his words, "Hey, you guys are being way too harsh on the teacher!"

Faced with this flawed cover-up, Sumi Kichikawa did not press for details about what the "emergency situation" actually was.

He simply smiled gently and reached out to turn the induction cooker's flame down a little.

The bubbling sound from the pot gradually subsided, and Kikawa Sumi continued gently, "Even if you're busy, you still need to remember to eat. Last time you came back in the early hours of the morning, and you didn't even touch the rice balls I left in the fridge."

The most powerful sorcerer, who was so confident just a moment ago, immediately looked guilty after hearing those words.

"Um... I bought some from the Xijiufu store on the corner."

Sumi Kichikawa didn't speak, she just looked at him quietly.

Those eyes, usually so gentle and warm, were now filled with helplessness and disapproval.

Under his lover's silent gaze, Gojo Satoru's momentum gradually weakened.

He lowered his voice slowly, trying to justify himself: "...I also drank strawberry milk."

Sumi Kikawa sighed: "So dinner is dessert?"

Gojo Satoru muttered under his breath, trying to argue, "Sugar is energy too..."

Seeing the person in front of her acting shamelessly, Wild Rose finally couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of her heart, "Dr. Qichuan, you've really worked hard."

Yuji Itadori nodded in agreement: "Sometimes, Gojo-sensei really is like a child."

Gojo Satoru was horrified and feigned heartache, clutching his chest: "Yujin, whose side are you on?!"

Hisahito Itadori answered loudly without hesitation: "The side of justice!"

A burst of light laughter rang out from the dining table.

Amid the students' teasing, Sumi Kichikawa laughed along. He lowered his eyes, picked up the serving chopsticks, and gently stirred the soft, overcooked vegetables in the pot.

In the rising, slightly hazy heat, his voice was as gentle as a harmless spring breeze.

"Enlightenment is not difficult to manage."

The people at the table were stunned for a moment and subconsciously looked at him.

As Sumi Kichikawa gazed at the bubbling broth in the pot, her eyes softened, yet revealed a clear and transparent quality.

"He's just sometimes too used to handling things alone."

These words, though seemingly casual, struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer blow, without warning.

The nonchalant, slightly roguish smile on Gojo Satoru's face froze for a moment, then slowly faded away.

Those six eyes, always hidden behind sunglasses and seeing through the flow of magical power in the world, stirred up a wave that was almost trembling because of a soft word.

He was used to being the "strongest" who stood in front of everyone, used to swallowing all the blood, exhaustion, and despair alone.

He thought he was disguising himself well; in front of this ordinary lover, he was always the perfect lover who was at ease and occasionally spoiled.

But it turns out that Sumi Kichikawa had seen everything.

Sumire Kichikawa didn't look at Satoru Gojo's expression, nor did she continue with those heavy topics.

He simply ladled out a small bowl of steaming hot, clear soup, skimmed of any oil, and placed it beside Gojo Satoru.

"So," Sumire Kichikawa raised her head, her deep and gentle gaze falling on Satoru Gojo, "I'll give you a reminder when I can."

Fushiguro Megumi looked at the bowl of soup emitting wisps of steam, then at Gojo Satoru who was standing silently with his eyes down, and suddenly understood something.

Sumi Kawakawa knew nothing.

He didn't know what a cursed spirit was, nor did he know the corruption and darkness of the cursed arts world, let alone the abyss that Gojo Satoru faced every day, a place that could devour lives at any moment.

But this was an ordinary man who couldn't even see a low-level cursed spirit.

Even though he didn't know where the battlefield was or how terrifying the enemy was, he still stubbornly protected Gojo Satoru in his own way, with a bowl of hot soup and a lamp left on until dawn.

Wild Rose lowered her eyelashes, and the question in her heart, "How can I protect someone so gentle?" suddenly became less certain.

This kind of steadfast concern, which belongs to ordinary people and is full of everyday life, may be the anchor point that the "god" who is suspended in the clouds and may get lost at any time in the endless heights most desires and needs.

After a brief silence, Hisahito Itadori put down his bowl and chopsticks.

The boy's amber eyes were full of clear sincerity as he looked at Sumire Kichikawa and spoke earnestly.

"However, Mr. Gojo never let us down when it mattered most."

Itadori grinned, revealing a bright smile: "No matter how bad the situation gets, as long as Teacher shows up, we're not afraid of anything. He's the most reliable!"

Whether facing a desperate predicament or pressure from higher-ups, all fear would vanish as soon as that tall white figure appeared.

After hearing this, Sumire Kikawa was slightly taken aback.

He turned his head and looked at Gojo Satoru sitting next to him.

Gojo Satoru was holding the bowl of hot soup, pretending to look at the chandelier on the ceiling, seemingly unconcerned about the students' praise, but the slightly red tip of his ear completely betrayed him.

Sumi Kichikawa felt her heart soften completely.

Instead of pointing out Gojo Satoru's discomfort, he reached out and tightly wrapped Gojo Satoru's other hand, which was on the table, in his own palm.

"Yes, I know."

Looking into Gojo Satoru's eyes, Sumire Kikawa spoke softly, yet with an unreserved affection and pride: "My Satoru has always been the best."

Gojo Satoru's fingers curled slightly in Sumireki's palm.

A soft smile curved his lips as he tilted his head slightly, a hint of pride and intimacy in his eyes, and gently grasped Kikawa Sumi's hand in return.

"Of course." Gojo Satoru's voice was low and tinged with amusement. "You've always had excellent taste."