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

Shoko remained silent for a long time, unsure of what expression to make.

It seems that every time Gojo Satoru mentions that man, things take an even more outrageous turn.

The first time was when Gojo Satoru told her out of the blue that she had a boyfriend; later, it turned out that the man was suspected of having serious personality problems.

Now things are really bad. Not only is his mental state worrying, but his identity is also far from as simple as it seems.

Shoko remembers clearly that Gojo Satoru initially swore that the other party was just an "ordinary doctor".

But judging from the current situation, how does that person, from head to toe, resemble "ordinary" at all?

If at first she still believed that Gojo Satoru was aware of the situation and wouldn't really get herself into any trouble, now she could no longer be as at ease as before.

That man clearly possesses power enough to shake the entire world of sorcery, yet he has always disguised himself as an ordinary person to approach Gojo Satoru. Now that his whereabouts have been exposed, he happens to be accompanied by a registered sorcerer.

Is this really just a coincidence?

Shoko stared at Gojo Satoru for a moment, then finally couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you ever suspect that he had ulterior motives for approaching you?"

Without even thinking, Gojo Satoru replied, "No."

Her quick reply only made Shoko's brow furrow even more.

What makes you so sure?

"Because he's not that kind of person."

"This answer is not convincing at all."

"Yes, I do," Gojo Satoru said matter-of-factly. "My judgment is the most convincing evidence."

Shoko stared at him expressionlessly.

Gojo Satoru smiled, putting away his carefree attitude and finally becoming a little more serious.

"I've met two of his friends. Although they aren't ordinary people, they possess a gentle strength."

Shoko paused slightly: "Power?"

"It's hard to explain." Gojo Satoru thought for a moment. "It's not like curse power, nor does it resemble a spell. It's more like something has been gently nurturing them all along, which is why their aura is so clean and stable."

Both Natsume and Sakura possess an extremely gentle power.

That power didn't bring any sense of oppression, but it always quietly lingered around them.

To be able to maintain long-term relationships with such people, and even be genuinely considered a friend by them, it's impossible that Sumi Kichikawa's nature is truly bad.

"As for that curse master, he is indeed a bit strange," Gojo Satoru said. "But Susumu has his own reasons for doing things. Since he keeps people by his side, he must have his reasons."

After hearing this, Shoko felt that her worries had not lessened at all, but had become even greater.

When Gojo Satoru said this, it sounded exactly like the excuse someone would make to cover up a questionable lover after being blinded by love.

What "he's not that kind of person"? What "he has his own reasons"?

Shouldn't the next sentence be "He promised he wouldn't lie to me"?

She looked at Gojo Satoru, and the more she looked, the more uneasy she felt.

However, Gojo Satoru himself was completely unaware of what she was thinking, and simply kept his head down and continued sending messages to Sumi Kichikawa.

【it's over.】

Sure enough, the other side replied instantly.

I'll come pick you up.

Gojo Satoru glanced at the time and tapped his fingers a few times.

"No need. It's too late. I'll find a place to sleep nearby."

His thinking was very simple.

Sumi Kichikawa spent the whole day running around outside, exorcising so many cursed spirits. It's impossible for her not to be tired.

In addition, he has classes tomorrow and needs to get up very early. If he doesn't go home today, Sumi Kichikawa will most likely still get up early to take care of him.

It's better to let that person rest early, at least they can get a good night's sleep.

But less than two seconds later, another message popped up.

【no. 】

I'll come pick you up.

Gojo Satoru was slightly taken aback when he saw the two short but stubborn replies, but he quickly realized what was going on.

……ah.

This person probably thought he was angry.

That's why they didn't dare back down on something like this and insisted on coming over in person to confirm it.

Thinking of this, Gojo Satoru couldn't help but chuckle, and finally replied:

【All right. 】

【I'm waiting for you.】

Shoko was still lost in her own thoughts when she came to her senses and saw Gojo Satoru smiling with his head down.

"What's wrong?"

Gojo Satoru waved his phone: "My boyfriend insisted on picking me up. He probably thinks I'm still angry."

"You agree?"

"Hmm." Gojo Satoru put his phone away. "If we don't let him come, he might go bother the cursed spirit again tomorrow. Then those rotten oranges in the director's department will start nagging endlessly."

Shoko's expression became somewhat complicated.

Listen to what this is saying?

The reason she allowed her boyfriend to come pick her up was that she was worried he would go and kill cursed spirits because he was in a bad mood.

Are these two people really not mentally ill?

However, it was precisely because of this sentence that Shoko suddenly realized something else.

"Did you already know his background?"

"No, not at all," Gojo Satoru said honestly. "I don't know much."

Shoko looked at him.

"However, he said he would tell me later."

really.

Shoko closed her eyes.

Every word Gojo Satoru says now sounds just like someone who's been sweet-talked into a daze in love.

The other party said they would explain later, so he waited patiently without asking any further questions.

Gojo Satoru clearly understood her expression and couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry, Shoko. He didn't lie to me."

"So you found out?"

"Of course I know." Gojo Satoru raised his hand and tapped his eyes. "I roughly understand some of his abilities, and I can also sense that his words and actions are subject to certain restrictions. There are some things he is not unwilling to say, but rather things he cannot say."

Shoko's expression shifted slightly: "Binding?"

"Not really."

Gojo Satoru shook his head, taking a rare moment to carefully consider his words.

"It must be something else. It probably involves some kind of rule, which is much more difficult to deal with than ordinary curses. At least as things stand, he certainly didn't lie about this."

Glass fell silent.

Doesn't this just prove that the man is a huge problem?

It involves rules, cannot be completely seen through even by six eyes, has an unknown origin, and its mental state is suspected to be unstable.

No matter how you look at it, putting these words together only makes people more wary.

Why does the five key insights still subtly exude a sense of pride?

What is he so proud of?

Sometimes, Shoko really felt that although this person seemed more mature than he was ten years ago as he got older, he was actually becoming more and more insane.

Just as she was about to say something more, her phone started vibrating repeatedly.

Shoko glanced down at the documents; they were several hastily delivered files. Immediately afterward, a phone call came in.

She had no choice but to temporarily give up asking questions and took her phone to the side to answer a call.

Gojo Satoru was left alone by the roadside.

The night air carried a chill as it swept through the empty streets. He glanced at his phone; Kikawa Sumi hadn't sent any more messages, so she was probably really on her way.

And they were clearly in a rush.

Before long, the car came from the end of the street and came to a smooth stop on the side of the road.

As soon as the car door opened, Sumi Kichikawa got out.

He was also holding a coat in his hand.

Upon seeing Gojo Satoru standing by the roadside, his pace quickened noticeably, but when he actually reached him, his speed unconsciously slowed down again.

Sumi Kichikawa did not speak immediately.

His gaze lingered on Gojo Satoru's face for a moment, as if carefully discerning his emotions. Then he took a step closer and draped the coat he was holding over Gojo's shoulders.

The movements were very light, and somewhat tentative.

"It's cold outside."

Gojo Satoru glanced down at the coat, then looked up at him, deliberately asking without much expression, "Aren't you tired coming over so late?"

Sumi Kichikawa paused for a moment.

"...Not tired."

Gojo Satoru said "Oh," pulled his coat tighter, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Didn't you run around all day? I thought you'd be too tired to move by now."

Kikawa Sumi looked at him, her thin lips pursed slightly: "It's okay."

Gojo Satoru turned his head and gave him a half-smile: "It's alright?"

Sumi Kichikawa seemed a little unsure of his current attitude, and lowered her voice even further: "Coming to pick you up is more important."

Actually, Gojo Satoru wasn't angry anymore by now, but he still deliberately kept a straight face and said slowly, "Is that so? But I feel like what you're best at right now is doing something to upset me first, and then trying to coax me."

Sumire Kikkawa's breathing visibly faltered for a moment.

He opened his mouth as if to explain something, but for a moment he didn't know where to begin, and finally he just said softly, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

I shouldn't have kept it from you.

Gojo Satoru looked at him: "Anything else?"

Sumire Kawakawa clearly hadn't expected there to be another question.

He thought about it carefully for a while before tentatively saying in a somewhat uncertain tone, "I shouldn't have worried you."

"It sounds like a guess."

"no."

Sumire Kichikawa instinctively reached out to touch his hand, but stopped just before her fingertips touched it.

"I know I did something wrong. If Satoru doesn't like it, I won't do it again."

"What?"

Sumi Kichikawa couldn't answer again.

Gojo Satoru waited for a moment, and seeing that he still couldn't utter a complete sentence, he gave a soft hum and turned to walk away.

"Never mind. You can go back now. I'll stay tonight—"

Before he could finish speaking, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Wu Tiaowu paused in his steps.

Kikawa Sumi seemed to realize that she had been a bit too hasty, and immediately loosened her grip a little, but stubbornly refused to let go.

"Don't go."

Gojo Satoru turned to look at him.

Kikawa Sumi pursed her lips, looking like she didn't know what to do with him. Her fingers gripping his wrist tightened and loosened repeatedly.

Seeing that Gojo Satoru still showed no intention of taking it back, he simply stepped forward and hugged him tightly from behind.

"I know I was wrong."

His arms were tightly wrapped around Gojo Satoru's waist, as if he was afraid that if he loosened his grip even slightly, the person in his arms would leave him.

"Wu, don't go."