Afternoon at Sobu High School—
Whistling softly, Satoru Gojo scrolled through short videos on his phone, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
But at that moment…
Oh—
Creaakkk—
The office door suddenly opened, and a tall figure stepped inside.
Hearing the sound of door opening, Gojo swiveled his chair toward the entrance.
"Yo… isn't this pingnai-san?" he said, his voice carrying a mischievous smirk.
He remembered clearly how she had scolded him earlier that morning.
Yukino Yukinoshita's expression immediately darkened.
Her teeth were clenched as she spoke slowly, word by word, each syllable icy.
"Gojo Sensei… it's… not… Pingnai… How could you not even remember the names of students? Is it really necessary for such a… sloppy, mixed-up teacher to be so careless?"
Gojo chuckled softly, nodding in mock-seriousness.
"Okay, Pingnai. No problem, Pingnai," he said with exaggerated gravity, then tilted his head, casting a brief, amused glance in her direction.
Yukino's eyes narrowed, irritation bubbling beneath her composed exterior.
She clenched her fists, suppressing the urge to curse him under her breath.
Sensing her rising temper, Gojo quickly shifted topics.
"So… did you come looking for Hiratsuka-sensei? She went out to eat, so if you wanted to find her, you'd have to wait until she returns this afternoon."
"No, I didn't come for Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukino replied, shaking her head in her usual calm, precise manner.
"I came for you, Gojo-sensei."
"Me? Why?" he asked, tilting his head, curiosity flickering in his blindfolded eyes.
He couldn't imagine any reason she would personally seek him out.
Yukino's normally composed face softened, though a faint trace of resentment lingered. Her tone held an almost wounded edge.
"A few days ago, I went to the 'love home' looking for the kitten," she began hesitantly, "but the kitten kept crying and resisting whenever it saw me… and later…"
She paused, taking a careful breath.
"The store manager said that maybe because you weren't there, the kitten was resistance—even if it was truly hungry. It wouldn't eat anything."
Her hand trembled slightly, even if she was speaking in a calm tone as though she were speaking for someone else's misfortune, rather than her own.
Gojo raised an eyebrow, tilting his head with mock-serious concern.
"No, the first person that kitten approached was you, right?" he asked, eyes narrowing playfully.
Yukino's expression faltered.
Her shoulders sagged slightly, as if the weight of helplessness had doubled.
"But… the person the kitten is closest to is you."
Ahem. Gojo leaned back slightly, voice dropping into a teasing drawl.
Sorry for being so likable~~
"So… you came to me. Do you want me to accompany you to the 'love home' this afternoon?"
{T/N: The name sound wrong like the Service club}
Yukino lowered her head in silent acknowledgment. She was the type to endure quietly, bowing to responsibility in order not to let the kitten starve, all while keeping her composure flawless.
"...Alright, come find me after school this afternoon," Gojo said lightly, as though the arrangement were entirely casual.
"No, Gojo-sensei. I still have club activities. I can't wait until they're over," Yukino replied firmly, her tone measured yet unyielding.
"Club activities?"
Gojo's brows furrowed slightly, curiosity flickering behind his blindfold.
So the club had already been formed? But hadn't club activities before their commissions been just reading or studying?
"Yes… the club I founded," Yukino said plainly, her voice flat, precise.
"If Gojo-sensei is really impatient, you can come to the clubroom to find me. Of course… I mean, to read," she added, almost as a disclaimer.
"So… you didn't explain that clearly at first," Gojo muttered, tilting his head with a half-grin.
"I just didn't want some unscrupulous teacher to take advantage of the situation and get ahead," she said firmly, her tone measured but unmistakably serious.
Before he could reply, Yukino turned on her heel and left, leaving only a faint trace of her signature fragrance lingering in the office air.
'Was my first impression that bad?' Gojo thought to himself in mock-sadness.
.....
The afternoon bell rang—school dismissed at three o'clock.
Yukino rubbed her temples tiredly.
The past few days had been sleepless, her mind preoccupied with the memory of the kitten's resistance.
She hadn't been able to rest properly, yet she still came to see Gojo—not for herself, but for the kitten.
When she reached the service club door, she paused.
A warm aroma drifted out, mingling with the gentle bubbling of water.
Curiosity and hunger stirred within her simultaneously.
Hesitantly, she pushed the door open—and froze.
The long table, normally reserved for books and paperwork, had been transformed— Bowls of fresh vegetables, assorted meats, and condiments filled every corner, and in the center sat a large hot pot, steam curling and bubbling vigorously.
The chair that would normally have been hers was already occupied.
"Yo! You're here, Yukino-san," Gojo greeted, seated comfortably, slightly damp from cooking, eyes gleaming with amusement behind his blindfolded.
Yukino's expression remained stoic.
"Gojo-sensei, our relationship is… not that close yet," she said quietly, not taking the seat across from him, arms crossed lightly.
"Explain why my Service Club has turned into a hot pot restaurant," she added, her voice laced with restrained exasperation.
"You're hungry, right? Well, hot pot's is the logical solution for hunger," Gojo replied matter-of-factly, dipping a piece of meat into the sauce before eating it with casual precision.
Yukino's mouth twitched slightly, betraying a near-imperceptible smile.
No matter how reserved she was, this white-haired teacher had a way of cracking her composure every single time.
"Come on. There are spices over there. Add them yourself,"
Gojo said, gesturing toward the neatly arranged seasonings at the side.
Yukino hesitated, then slowly picked up a bowl and chopsticks.
She mixed a few spices carefully, her movements precise, as she hesitantly joined him in the meal.
After all, she hadn't eaten lunch at noon, and the hot pot looked undeniably appetizing.
It is just because I am hungry, she said silently to herself.
Gojo, noticing her expression, smiled faintly.
His easygoing demeanor, subtle teasing, and the warm aroma of the bubbling hot pot created an atmosphere that was almost impossible to resist.
Even Yukino, normally so guarded and composed, couldn't help but let her guard down slightly.
As they ate, small gestures—Gojo chatting with her, subtly checking the temperature— slowly broke the stiffness between them.
"See? Not so bad, is it? Hot pot's a perfect afternoon pick-me-up," Gojo said, wiping his mouth casually.
Yukino couldn't respond immediately.
Instead, she focused on adding more spices to her bowl, trying to maintain her composure, but a faint blush betrayed her.
Gojo leaned back, one hand behind his head, watching her quietly.
"This is exactly why I said you'd be the responsible type. Always putting others first—even cats," he said, chuckling softly.
Yukino exhaled, finally allowing herself a small, genuine smile. "…you make it sound like a life-or-death matter."
Gojo only grinned wider. "Isn't it, though? For someone like you, it is."
A warm silence settled over the room.
Steam curled lazily from the hot pot, intertwining with laughter, soft comments, and the occasional playful tease from Gojo.
In that small, cozy corner of Sobu High School, even the most stoic heart could feel a little lighter, and even the quietest of afternoons could carry the warmth of companionship.