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

The next morning, before leaving home, Sumi Kichikawa stopped briefly in the kitchen.

The white ceramic cup was still placed in a separate compartment next to the cup holder.

He washed it last night and put it there. Now, looking at it again, its position isn't out of place; the rim of the cup is facing down, and the light blue lines on the cup are faintly visible in the morning light.

After looking at it for a few seconds, Sumi Kichikawa suddenly wondered if she should buy a separate coaster.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

A new message popped up in the hospital's group chat.

[Chinatsu Miyazawa: We're short two people for the game area at Saturday's event. Does anyone know any reliable volunteers? Even if they're not reliable, as long as they're quick, it's fine.]

Someone replied very quickly.

[Makoto Fujii: I can move the machines over, but don't expect me to take care of the kids.]

[Chinatsu Miyazawa: Mr. Fujii, you've already done your part by not scaring the children.]

[Makoto Fujii: I have a very kind appearance.]

[Chinatsu Miyazawa: Please do not mislead minors.]

Kikawa Sumi looked down for a moment and replied, "I'll check after I get off work."

After sending the message, he put his phone back in his pocket.

The cup was still quietly sitting there in the kitchen.

Sumire Kichikawa recalled how Gojo Satoru had earnestly confirmed before leaving last night, "Don't let anyone else use it," and also remembered the way Gojo looked at him with his chin raised after winning a game.

Very proud.

They are also easily happy.

This would be a good fit for the gaming section.

But Gojo Satoru is usually very busy.

Therefore, Sumi Kichikawa did not immediately send a message to ask.

He changed his shoes and glanced at his phone again before leaving.

Miyazawa Chinatsu has already posted the event details in the group chat.

Setup will begin at 12 PM on Saturday, and the event will start at 2 PM. There will be separate areas for games, a charity sale, and crafts. The number of children is tentatively set at 27, plus several family members.

A table is attached below.

The game section does indeed have two empty slots.

Kikawa Sumi turned off her phone screen and stepped into the elevator.

The hospital is much busier in the mornings than the apartment building.

The nurses' station phone rang incessantly, carts passed by in the corridor, and posters advertising Saturday's activities were plastered on the walls. The posters featured balloons, plush toys, and several old-fashioned arcade machines, with the words:

[Spring Charity Sale and Games Day]

This event was originally organized by the pediatric ward and several volunteers from the nearby area.

Because the children have been hospitalized for a long time, they have little time to go out, so the hospital organizes these small events every now and then. The proceeds from the sale are used to buy books, paintbrushes, and toys for the common areas, which helps to brighten up the otherwise dull days in the ward.

As Sumi Kichikawa passed by the notice board, Chinatsu Miyazawa was standing there posting new process sheets.

Holding tape in one hand and pressing down on the paper with the other, she said without turning her head, "Dr. Qichuan, you've come at the perfect time."

Kikawa Sumi walked over and took the tape from her hand.

"where?"

"Top left corner. Yes, right there." Miyazawa Chinatsu released her grip, took two steps back, and looked around. "Okay, at least it doesn't look like it's going to fall."

Sumi Kichikawa put the tape back at the nurses' station.

Chinatsu Miyazawa turned to look at him: "You just said in the group chat that you'd confirm after get off work, does that mean you have someone in mind?"

"Maybe."

"acquaintance?"

"Um."

Is it reliable?

Sumire Kawakawa thought for a moment.

"Very reliable."

Miyazawa Chinatsu glanced at him with a hint of surprise.

Sumi Kichikawa isn't incapable of praising people, but he usually puts his praise very restrained.

Words like "not bad," "okay," and "no problem" are already considered very high praise.

The words "very reliable" carried a distinct weight when he said them.

Chinatsu Miyazawa couldn't help but ask, "So, who is it? A friend?"

"friend."

"You play video games?"

"Very good at it."

"How's your temper?"

Sumire Kawakawa paused for a moment.

Miyazawa Chinatsu looked at him sharply.

After thinking for a moment, Sumi Kikawa said conservatively, "She should get along well with the children."

Chinatsu Miyazawa raised an eyebrow: "That answer sounds rather subtle."

"He's great at making people happy; the kids will definitely love him."

Miyazawa Chinatsu nodded thoughtfully, her gaze falling on Kikawa Sumi's calm face, and then she suddenly smiled.

"Dr. Qichuan, have you been mentioning this friend a lot lately?"

Sumire Kawakawa looked at her.

"Is there?"

"Yes," said Chinatsu Miyazawa. "Yesterday you asked me for the location of the dessert shop, and the day before yesterday you seemed to have asked if you could put pudding in the refrigerator in the duty room. Last week you also said that there was someone who was a picky eater but not uncommunicative. Although I don't know much about them, these should all be the same person, right?"

Sumire Kawakawa remained silent for a moment.

"He's not a picky eater."

"I didn't say it had to be someone."

Sikawa Cheng: "..."

Miyazawa Chinatsu chuckled.

"So, what's his name?"

Sumire Kichikawa glanced down at the flowchart.

"Gojo Satoru."

Miyazawa Chinatsu read it aloud: "Gojo Satoru."

She commented, "The name has a strong presence."

Sumire Kawakawa thought for a moment and said, "People too."

Miyazawa Chinatsu turned her head to look over, but Kisakawa Sumi looked down and helped her put away the excess tape.

Miyazawa Chinatsu quietly observed for a moment, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes.

"It sounds like I'll have to see this for myself on Saturday."

Sumi Kikawa said, "He might not be available."

"But do you hope he's available?"

Sumi Kichikawa paused for a moment.

A child was calling for "Nurse Sister" in the distance down the corridor, and the phone at the nurses' station rang again. Miyazawa Chinatsu answered the phone casually, patiently responding a few times before hanging up.

Sumire Kichikawa then spoke up: "The children would be very happy if he were willing to come."

Miyazawa Chinatsu stared intently at him, a clear smile in her eyes, and asked bluntly, "Only the children?"

Hearing the sound, Kikawa Sumi turned her head and glanced over indifferently.

Miyazawa Chinatsu immediately smiled and raised her hand in a gesture of surrender: "Okay, I won't ask anymore."

But the smile on her face clearly didn't mean that.

When I checked on Ono Haruka in the morning, she was already awake.

She sat on the bed by the window, holding a handheld game console in her arms, her expression very serious. On the bedside table were a half-full glass of warm water, a box of colored pencils, and next to it, a "challenge letter" she had drawn for Saturday's event.

Kikawa Sumi walked to the bedside, glanced at the log sheet, and asked, "Did you eat well this morning?"

"I ate," Haruka Ono replied immediately. "I had half a bowl of porridge, an egg, and half a banana."

"Half a piece?"

"I really don't want to eat the remaining half."

Sumi Kichikawa glanced at her indifferently.

Haruka Ono added earnestly, "But I drank water."

"Hmm." Sumi Kichikawa didn't pursue the matter further. "Where do you feel unwell?"

"No." Haruka Ono shook her head, then held up the handheld console. "But it's uncomfortable here."

The character on the screen is stopped in front of a platform, with only one life left.

Sumi Kichikawa glanced down.

"Here again?"

"It's even worse today than yesterday," Haruka Ono said. "I suspect it's holding a grudge."

"Games don't hold grudges."

"That's because the producer holds a grudge."

Sumire Kikawa chuckled softly and pointed to the bottom right corner of the screen.

"Stop here for a moment, don't jump yet. Wait for the monster to pass."

Ono Haruka tried it once as he suggested, and the character finally landed successfully on the platform.

Her eyes lit up.

"Passed!"

"Um."

"Dr. Kikawa, are you really good at video games?"

"I know a little."

"Knowing a little is being really good." Haruka Ono had already grasped the humble way adults behaved. "Then, could you be in charge of the gaming area on Saturday?"

"If there's no temporary work available, that's fine."

"Then you'll be the final boss," Ono Haruka said seriously. "Whoever beats you will get the highest prize."

What is the top-tier prize?

Haruka Ono pulled a card she had drawn herself from under her pillow.

It says:

[Game Master Certification]

There was also a drawing of a little bear wearing a crown next to it.

After looking at it for a while, Sumire Kichikawa praised, "It looks very formal."

"Of course," Ono Haruka said. "Uncle Fujii said that games should have a sense of ritual."

Sumi Kichikawa returned the card to her.

Haruka Ono suddenly asked, "Dr. Kikawa, is your friend who's really good at video games coming?"

Kikawa Sumire was taken aback.

How did you know?

"Nurse Miyazawa just said in the hallway that there might be a really powerful helper in the game area," Ono Haruka blinked, "...your friend."

Sumi Kichikawa did not answer immediately.

Haruka Ono observed his expression and asked softly, "Can't you come?"

"I haven't asked him yet."

Is he very busy?

"Um."

"Busiers than doctors?"

Sumire Kawakawa thought for a moment.

In his understanding, Gojo Satoru's job was that of a teacher, but it seemed to require him to travel frequently. The other person always spoke of it casually, but Sumi Kikawa could sense that it was anything but easy.

"almost."

Haruka Ono sighed, "Adults are all so busy."

Sumi Kawakawa carefully put away the stethoscope.

Haruka Ono then asked, "So what kind of person is he?"

Kikawa Sumi paused for a moment.

"White hair".

Haruka Ono's eyes lit up.

"Like an anime character?"

"A little."

Is he good at video games?

"You played very well."

"Is he good-tempered? He won't cheat if he loses, will he?"

Sumire Kichikawa carefully recalled her battles with Satoru Gojo.

"Sometimes I can be quite willful."

Haruka Ono immediately understood: "That means it's powerful but troublesome."

"It's no trouble at all."

Haruka Ono looked at him.

Seemingly realizing that she was being too protective of her own, Sumi Kichikawa glanced away for a moment.

Haruka Ono hugged the handheld console and giggled.

"Then you should ask him," she said. "If he comes, I can write the challenge letter more elegantly."

Sumi Kichikawa glanced at the cards on the bedside table that were already half-written.

It's covered with pictures of bears, stars, and handles.

He nodded.

I will ask.