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

In the end, they didn't go very far.

Next to the convenience store where Sumi Kikawa bought pudding, there is a small open plaza nestled between buildings.

The square is not large, with two neatly trimmed trees in the middle and several benches under them.

By evening, most of the people in the nearby office buildings had left, leaving only the vending machines quietly lit up. Occasionally, someone would ride a bicycle past, the bicycle bell ringing crisply before being quickly blown away by the city wind.

Kikawa Sumi looked around and pointed to the spot under the tree.

"Is that alright?"

Gojo Satoru turned his head to look at him.

"It's fine as long as Cheng makes the decision."

He gave a casual answer.

Kikawa Sumi nodded seriously, led him over, placed the paper bag in the middle of the bench, and took out two puddings from it.

Convenience store exclusive.

One has a caramel cream flavor, and the other has a rich milk flavor.

Kikawa Sumi looked down at it, then looked up at Gojo Satoru.

Which one do you want?

"Anything is fine."

"Here's the caramel."

Gojo Satoru curled his lips into a smile: "Why?"

Sumi Kikawa handed over the pudding: "I feel like Satoru would like it a little sweeter."

Gojo Satoru paused for a moment as he took the pudding.

He had never explicitly stated his preferences to Sumire Kichikawa.

The last time I was at Sumire's house, he ate candy and drank tea, and casually mentioned that the tea and snacks were delicious. Coupled with his earlier comment that he "loves pudding," anyone who pays a little attention can probably guess that he has a sweet tooth.

Why does Sumi Kawakawa have to pay attention to these things?

They weren't in a very close relationship, were they?

Gojo Satoru lowered his eyes and looked at the caramel pudding in his palm.

Inside the transparent plastic cup, the caramel layer shimmered with a pale amber hue under the streetlights, like a small, solidified patch of sunset.

"Cheng is so thoughtful," he said.

Kikawa Sumi unwrapped her milk pudding, then paused upon hearing this.

"I just thought you would like it."

"Isn't that just being attentive?"

"yes."

Sumi Kichikawa seemed a little unsure how to respond to such praise, and lowered her head to take out the small spoon that came with it.

When he unpacked the package, he pressed his fingertips against the plastic seal; his movements were neither fast nor hesitant.

Gojo Satoru looked at him.

As night fell, the streetlights came on, casting a warm yellow glow on Sumi Kichikawa's profile.

His eyelashes drooped, and his phoenix eyes were outlined with a soft curve by the light and shadow.

This person wasn't handsome at all; his features were merely delicate and pleasing to the eye. He seemed perfectly suited to sitting on an ordinary bench, eating an ordinary dessert, and spending an ordinary evening.

But he has a very comfortable aura about him.

Gojo Satoru lowered his head and scooped up a spoonful of pudding.

The caramel is very sweet.

The sweetness melts on the tip of the tongue, followed by a slightly bitter finish, with a soft, milky aroma that settles down.

It's a common flavor in convenience store desserts.

"Is it good?" Sumi asked.

Gojo Satoru immediately picked up his spoon: "It's super delicious."

Sumi Kichikawa's lips curved slightly.

"I'll bring you some next time I see it."

With a spoon in his mouth, Gojo Satoru's voice was somewhat muffled: "Sumi, what you're doing is dangerous."

"Um?"

"You're too good at taking care of people." Gojo Satoru took out the spoon and said with a smile, "You'll spoil people."

Sumire Kawakawa thought for a moment.

Being spoiled isn't necessarily a bad thing.

This time it was Gojo Satoru's turn to stay.

After finishing her sentence, Sumi Kichikawa seemed to realize that her words were a bit too obvious. She lowered her head, scooped up a small spoonful of pudding, and added, "If someone is always working hard, it's okay to be taken care of occasionally."

He didn't read Gojo Satoru.

Gojo Satoru suddenly chuckled.

"Cheng really looks like a doctor."

"That's how it is."

"Not in a professional sense." Gojo Satoru gently tapped the rim of the pudding cup with his spoon, making a very soft sound. "He's the type who would bring back a small, withering flower from the roadside and water it."

Sumi Kichikawa thought about it seriously.

"If it's still alive, I'll water it."

"See?"

"But we might not necessarily take them back," Sumi Kikawa said. "Some flowers are better suited to stay where they are."

Gojo Satoru paused slightly.

He turned his head and looked at Sumireki.

The blindfold covered his eyes, but Kikawa Sumi still caught the slightest pause on his face. Kikawa Sumi didn't ask any questions, but simply pushed her pudding a little closer to him.

"Would you like to try this?"

The topic was gently diverted.

Gojo Satoru looked down at the milk pudding that was being pushed towards him and suddenly realized that this person was really smart.

He won't break down your door, nor will he force open your window. He simply flows through the cracks, retreating when you don't want to be touched, and stopping right next to you when you feel cold.

It's dangerous to get too close to someone like that.

It's not dangerous for Gojo Satoru.

It is dangerous for Sumi Kichikawa.

There's nothing good around a sorcerer.

The rotting upper levels, the out-of-control curse, the rescue that never comes in time, and the troubles that come with getting close to him.

Gojo Satoru knew exactly how the malice of this world would find a crack to slip in.

He is the strongest.

But the strongest isn't omnipotent.

The strongest can kill cursed spirits, dismantle barriers, and crush enemies, but cannot guarantee that an ordinary person will always be safe in a place where he cannot see him.

Therefore, ordinary people should not get too close to sorcerers.

He repeated this sentence to himself many times.

It's like a reminder, and also like a warning.

Gojo Satoru paused for a second, then picked up his spoon and scooped out a mouthful.

"Hmm." He nodded. "This one is good too."

Sumi Kichikawa looked somewhat happy.

Her features, which were originally just pleasing to the eye, became more lively because of the smile in the corner of her eyes.

Gojo Satoru suddenly thought, "Oh no."

When the doctor is happy, it suits his taste perfectly.

He slowly scooped up the pudding with a small spoon, and casually asked, "Speaking of which, is Cheng off today?"

"Yeah." Sumi Kichikawa nodded. "It's rare to have a day off."

"Going out to buy things even on your day off, that's really diligent."

"We're almost out of tea at home," said Sumi Kichikawa. "And we're almost finished with the stickers from the hospital too."

"sticker?"

"It's for the children." Sumi Kichikawa moved the paper bag aside. "After the injection or check-up, they'll choose one. It won't really reduce the pain, but it can distract them a little."

Gojo Satoru propped his chin on his hand and chuckled, "Sounds like you're good at coaxing kids."

"It's not about coaxing them," Sumi Kichikawa said. "It's just about giving them a small reward to look forward to. Pain is harder to bear if it's completely meaningless."

Gojo Satoru did not respond immediately.

The wind blew down from the treetops, and the leaves rustled.

Gojo Satoru looked down at the last bit of caramel left in the pudding cup.

Pain is more unbearable if it is completely meaningless.

This sentence is so light, so casually uttered, yet it accurately touches upon some very deep places.

He thought of Hui.

I thought of that child who always had a cold face, yet would shield others in crucial moments. I thought of the boy gritting his teeth and summoning the Jade Dog in the old school building just now.

Hui wouldn't cry out in pain, nor would she whine; she might even think that this level of injury wasn't worth worrying about.

It seems that children of sorcerers are always forced to learn "it's okay" at a very young age.

He then thought of the students in the vocational college.

Young, noisy, troublesome, and sometimes so annoying that you just want to throw them all out on the track for a run.

But they also laugh, complain, and show a relieved expression after a mission, perhaps over a hot drink.

They haven't truly been worn down into silent adults by this world yet, so Gojo Satoru wants to shield them from even more harm.

Going a little further back, it was even longer ago.

Xia Youjie sat on the steps, sunlight falling between them.

The wind was just right then, and the cicadas were chirping so loudly it was irritating. They were so close, yet he couldn't grab the person who was falling deeper into the abyss.

Does pain need to have meaning?

The pain of a sorcerer is often meaningless.

The dead will not return because of meaning, and a broken youth will not become complete because of a phrase like "for the future".

But if it has no meaning at all, then it's too unbearable.

That's why he wanted to become a teacher.

That's why he wants to push those little devils who haven't been completely tainted by rotten oranges forward, and to pave all the paths he couldn't walk before.

Gojo Satoru suddenly found it very funny.

He originally just wanted to test Sumi Kichikawa.

Probe the unusual "coincidences" about this person, test whether the cancellation of the mission has anything to do with him, and test whether there is something hidden beneath this gentleness that you cannot yet see.

But in the end, it was he who got the short end of the stick.

"Cheng," he said.

"Um?"

"Have you always been this eloquent?"

Kikawa Sumi looked up at him, as if she didn't quite understand.

"I'm not particularly good at talking."

"Yes," Gojo Satoru said with a smile. "Even though it's just eating pudding, it suddenly makes you want to live life more seriously."

Sumire Kikkawa paused for a moment.

He looked at Gojo Satoru.

A white-haired man sat on a bench, a black eye mask covering his eyes, holding a small plastic spoon given out by a convenience store. He looked out of place, yet strangely endearing.

This person seems carefree and strong, as if nothing can hold them back, but there was a fleeting hint of weariness in their last sentence.

Sumire's heart softened a little more.

He felt that he was probably really easy to be soft-hearted towards Gojo Satoru.

It was the same when we first met, it was the same the second time, and it's the same now.

It seemed that as long as this person lowered their voice even slightly, he would want to hand over everything he could.

Sugar, tea, pudding—it doesn't matter.

It's even a place where you can stop for a while.

Sumi Kichikawa didn't realize that this thought was actually a bit too intimate for someone she had only known for a short time.

He simply said naturally, "Then live life more earnestly."

Gojo Satoru smiled: "The doctor's advice?"

"Um."

"What if you don't listen?"

"That's alright." Sumi Kichikawa lowered her eyes. "I'll suggest it next time."

Gojo Satoru was silent for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Cheng Hao is very patient."

"Be patient with patients."

Am I a patient?

Sumire looked at him, her expression becoming a little more serious.

"Not now."

Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow: "Not now?"

"Hmm," said Sumi Kikawa, "but if you feel really tired one day, you can take on the role for a while."