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

He's such a straightforward person.

Gojo Satoru thought about it again.

Because it is straightforward, there is no ambiguity, only a clean and unguarded preference.

Gojo Satoru's fingers tightened slightly as he held the pudding cup.

He wanted to tell a joke.

For example, "Wow, is Cheng going to give me a sick leave certificate?" or "If a PE teacher asks for leave, the students will cry and beg him to stay."

But those light, fleeting words lingered on his tongue before he swallowed them back down.

Because Sumire Kichikawa is different; he wasn't just trying to coax him.

This person genuinely believes that if he gets tired, he can stop for a while.

You can live as an ordinary person.

Ordinary people.

Gojo Satoru suddenly felt a bit annoyed by this word.

He had always defined Susumu Kichikawa as an "ordinary person," placing him in a position where he should be protected and kept away from the curse. But at this moment, this ordinary person gently pulled him out of his "strongest" shell.

The force was clearly very light, yet it was impossible to ignore.

Gojo Satoru lowered his head and ate the last bite of pudding, the plastic spoon scraping the bottom of the cup with a tiny sound.

"Cheng," he drawled, as if reverting to his usual carefree self, "Are you this nice to everyone?"

Sumi Kawakawa blinked.

Although Gojo Satoru's question sounded like a joke, he was indeed observing.

Observe Susumu Kikkawa's pauses, observe his breathing, observe any trace that might be revealed when he lies or conceals something.

He didn't even know what he was confirming.

After thinking for a moment, Sumire Kikkawa replied, "No."

Gojo Satoru's smile faltered slightly.

"Oh?"

"I'm more patient with children," Sumi Kikawa said. "And with friends too."

"So which category do I fall into?"

Sumire Kawakawa looked at him.

The plaza lights were soft, and the evening breeze ruffled Gojo Satoru's white hair. He sat there, a nonchalant smile on his face, yet it was as if he were waiting for an answer.

Sumire Kikawa suddenly felt that this issue was best not left ambiguous.

He took the initiative to make connections, not to hide his true feelings.

So he said, "I hope we can be friends."

Gojo Satoru remained silent.

Sumi Kikawa added, "If Satoru is willing."

Gojo Satoru's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

friend.

For ordinary people, these are probably just two very simple words.

This means that two people who have established a long-term relationship eat together, chat together, occasionally share their lives, contact each other less when they are busy, and meet up again when they have free time.

Relaxed, ordinary, and without much burden.

But for Gojo Satoru, those two words are followed by a lot.

Danger, distance, and loss.

He should have smiled and glossed over the topic.

With a cheerful smile, say, "Of course, haven't we already exchanged names?" Then, mentally draw a line between the two relationships, reminding yourself not to cross it.

But Sumire Kichikawa was looking at him.

Those dark eyes held no demand, only quiet waiting.

I don't insist on any particular answer.

Gojo Satoru suddenly thought, "Oh, oh."

We're just friends.

It's just about having a simple pudding, chatting for a while, and fulfilling an ordinary person's expectation.

It doesn't mean forever.

It doesn't mean that we'll inevitably reach a point of no return.

He can control the distance.

He's always been very good at this.

"Of course I'd love to!" Gojo Satoru laughed, his voice light and cheerful. "It would be such a shame to miss out on a friend like Sumi who knows how to buy pudding."

Sumi Kichikawa seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

It's very light, but it has six eyes.

Then, in an instant, a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on arose in his mind.

Sumi Kichikawa collected the two empty pudding cups, put them in a paper bag, and prepared to throw them in the trash can later.

Gojo Satoru looked at him: "Sumi, you even have to collect my trash?"

"smoothly."

"Being taken care of so much makes me really lazy."

Sumire Kichikawa looked up: "Then I'll become a little lazier."

Gojo Satoru: "..."

Again.

This is a tacit acceptance.

It was as if they didn't realize they had said anything particularly significant.

Gojo Satoru suddenly covered his face, his shoulders shaking slightly as he laughed.

"Cheng, you're really dangerous."

Sumire Kichikawa, confused, asked, "Where is it dangerous?"

"Danger is everywhere."

"yes."

After thinking for a moment, Sumire Kichikawa took out another small packet of candy from the paper bag.

Those were the fruit hard candies that hospitals usually keep on hand. The packaging was very ordinary, with a few pretty little candies inside a transparent bag.

"Here, this is for you too," he said. "It'll help you get some sugar if you have to work later."

Gojo Satoru looked down at the bag of candy.

A moment later, he reached out and took it, his fingertips touching Sumi Kichikawa's fingers.

Sumi Kichikawa's fingertips felt slightly cool.

Gojo Satoru's hands were warm.

"Thank you, doctor." Gojo Satoru put the candy in his pocket, along with the small dark blue lucky bag. "Now I have two supplies for today."

"Are there still jobs available?"

"I don't know." Gojo Satoru looked up at the sky, his eyes hidden by the blindfold, yet he seemed to be truly gazing at the night. "Maybe it will come again later, maybe it won't."

"I hope not."

Gojo Satoru turned his head to the side: "Why?"

Sumi Kikawa replied quickly: "Because you can rest earlier."

Gojo Satoru was silent for two seconds.

Then he laughed and said, "Cheng, if you say that, I might misunderstand and think I'm very popular."

Sumire Kawakawa looked at him.

"It's not a misunderstanding."

Gojo Satoru's smile lingered on his lips.

Sumi Kichikawa seemed to realize that her words were too blunt, so she lowered her eyes and folded the edge of the paper bag.

"What I mean is," his voice was still gentle, just a little lower than before, "that it was very enjoyable to chat with Satoru."

Gojo Satoru did not respond immediately.

Cars drove by in the distance, their lights flowing like a river across the street corner. Someone smiled and pushed open the door of the convenience store, plastic bags rustling in the wind.

The world was noisy, but suddenly there was only the sound of their breathing between them.

Five realizations: This won't do.

It really won't work.

If this continues, he will want to see this person more and more.

She would wonder what he would buy on his days off, want to try the desserts he thought were delicious, think of him first after a mission was canceled, and want to steal a certain evening from the mess of the sorcery world and stuff it into this gentle and ordinary time.

These very thoughts are the beginning of danger.

But Sumire Kichikawa was sitting next to him, carefully putting away the empty pudding cups, handing him the candy, and saying that she hoped he didn't have any tasks and could get some rest.

Gojo Satoru reached into his pocket, his fingertips touching the small lucky bag and the packet of new candy.

He thought, forget it.

Let's leave it at least for today.

Anyway, bad luck hasn't come yet.

Anyway, he's still here.

Anyway, if anything really tries to get close to Sumire, he'll crush it first.

"And what's next?" Gojo Satoru suddenly asked.

Sumire looked up: "What?"

"I've finished the pudding." Gojo Satoru stood up, stretched, and his clothes rode up slightly before quickly settling back down. He was completely unaware of it, simply looking lazily down at Sumireki Kikawa. "Friend, where are we going next?"

Sumi Kichikawa restrained herself from looking away from his waist.

He paused for a second.

"There's a bookstore nearby," he said. "It has a coffee area and desserts. Would you like to go?"

Gojo Satoru smiled.

"Did Cheng already have this planned out?"

"I just happened to know."

"Is that so~" Gojo Satoru drawled, "Then let's go."

Kikawa Sumi picked up the paper bag and stood next to him.

The two walked out of the small square side by side.

The streetlights cast long shadows of them, one high and one low, falling on the sidewalk. As they walked closer, their shadows gently parted again because of the gaps between the paving stones.

Gojo Satoru glanced at Sumireki Kawakawa.

This person walks with a steady pace and subconsciously walks on the side closer to the road. Even after realizing that Gojo Satoru is tall and doesn't seem like someone who needs to be protected, he still doesn't change his position.

Gojo Satoru couldn't help but chuckle.

Hearing the sound, Sumire Kichikawa turned to look at him: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Gojo Satoru said. "I just think that Sumi is a good person."

Sumire thought for a moment and said seriously, "Because the object of my affection is Satoru."

Wu Tiaowu paused almost imperceptibly.

The night breeze blew between them, carrying a faint, lingering milky scent of dessert.

He suddenly realized that the candy in his pocket was already sweet even before he had eaten it.