Later that evening…
The courtyard was quiet. The breeze swayed the lanterns hung near the dorm windows.
Utahime Iori sat on a bench, sipping tea, her posture relaxed for once.
Then came the footsteps.
She didn't need to look.
"I can feel you behind me, you know," she muttered.
"Is that so?" Gojo's voice rang out playfully.
In a blur, he popped into view and plopped down beside her with an exaggerated sigh.
"You've been quiet lately," he said. "Worried about your dear students?"
"I always am," she said calmly.
Gojo leaned over slightly, his hand sneaking up—and before she could react, his fingers lightly pinched her cheek.
"Still such a worrywart, Utahime."
She froze.
"You… absolute child!" she shouted, slapping his hand away.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Gojo rubbed his hand, pouting. "Abuse of power from a senior! I'm filing a report!"
She grabbed her tea and took a long, aggressive sip. "You haven't changed one bit."
"And you still blush when I'm near," he teased.
"I do not!"
"Uh-huh~"
She sighed deeply, setting the cup down. "…I wish you'd act serious for once."
Gojo looked away, toward the twilight horizon.
"…I do," he said quietly. "When it matters."
Utahime looked at him, surprised by the sudden drop in tone.
A rare moment of honesty.
And then—
"Well," he said, bouncing back up with a grin, "until then, I'm gonna keep pulling cheeks and hearts."
"You're insufferable."
"You love me."
Utahime rolled her eyes—but her smile, however faint, lingered long after he left.
THIS WAS THE MOMENT.
END OF VOLUME-2
THANK YOU FOR READING
THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HIGH BEFORE! CATCH YUJI ITADORI IN
JUJUTSU KAISEN: ALTERNATE FATE, VOLUME-3
BY SAHIL MISHRA.