The harsh glare of the surgical light stung Satoru Gojo's eyes as he blinked them open. Instinctively, he raised a hand to shield them, but his fingers brushed his temple, sparking a fiery sting.
"Yo, you're awake," Shoko Ieiri's smoky voice cut through, laced with the heavy scent of tobacco and alcohol wafting over.
Gojo squinted, adjusting to the light, and turned his head.
Shoko sat on a metal stool nearby, legs crossed, a lit cigarette between her fingers and a flask in her other hand.
The cold, hard stainless steel of the bed dug into his back. This place felt less like a medical room and more like… a morgue.
"Ugh," Gojo grimaced, the movement tugging at a wound on his face, making him hiss. His voice was hoarse. "I lost, huh?"
His tone carried a mix of reflection and resignation.
Shoko snorted, blowing out a smoke ring that clouded her expression. "After the Death Migration, Yuki Tsukumo dragged me out for drinks."
She paused, taking a swig from her flask. "She got wasted and told me…"
Mimicking Yuki's bold, slightly dazed tone, Shoko's voice echoed like they were back in an izakaya. "'Shoko, you know what? That handsome guy… he's the first time I've seen proof that gods are real.'"
She set the flask down, her gaze shifting to Gojo on the autopsy table. "Pretty bold, huh?"
Gojo's smile froze, his sky-blue Six Eyes glinting under the harsh light, unreadable for a moment.
Seconds later, the smile spread wider, though a flicker of complex emotion darted through his eyes, too quick to catch.
He didn't respond, just propped his uninjured arm behind his head and let out a vague, "Heh."
Shoko eyed his reaction, standing and tapping his forehead, ash falling onto his bandages. "He went easy on you, you know." She pulled a few photos from her coat pocket and tossed them onto his chest.
Gojo picked one up with two fingers.
The image showed him embedded in a shattered cliff, a jagged, charred slash running from his left hip to his right shoulder. The wound was bloodless, the flesh seared by intense heat.
"If he'd put in a little more effort," Shoko said, pointing at the photo with her flask, "you'd be in pieces—east side, west side."
Gojo tossed the photo onto a metal tray.
"Fair enough," he said, staring at the ceiling, the surgical lights reflecting as twin bright spots in his blue eyes. "He hasn't drawn that blade yet—the one that could cleave Sukuna's soul and slice the sky in one swing."
Shoko let out a sudden laugh, downing another gulp from her flask. "So?"
"So it's not that he didn't want to fight," Gojo said, his grin tugging at his scabbed wounds. "I was just too weak."
He held up his thumb and forefinger, two centimeters apart. "He was probably worried he'd accidentally—"
"Chop Satoru Gojo into 2.5 Satoru Gojos?" Shoko cut in quick, flicking her cigarette butt into the trash with precision.
Three seconds of silence. Then both burst into laughter, the sound rattling the glassware in the medical cabinets.
Gojo laughed until he coughed up blood, and Shoko, still chuckling, shoved a lollipop into his mouth.
"Next time," Gojo mumbled around the candy, his Six Eyes blazing with a new intensity, "I at least want to see that sky-splitting blade."
Shoko blew out another smoke ring, then tapped his forehead again. "Oh, right. He told me to remind you—don't forget about his house."
Gojo shot up from the autopsy table, bandages unraveling and falling to the floor.
Though his Reverse Cursed Technique had healed his wounds, a strange burning lingered on his back. "I'm in this state," he gestured at his bare torso, "and he's still squeezing me dry?"
Shoko leaned back on her stool, lighting a new cigarette with a click of her lighter. "You could just not do it."
Gojo's dramatic whining face froze.
Three seconds later, he scratched his messy white hair. "Fine, I'll do it," he muttered, sounding like a kid who'd just lost his candy.
"Heh." Shoko smirked, pointing at the door. "You're fine now. Get out of my medical room."
She nudged him with her foot as he tried to lean closer. "Shoko, so cold~" Gojo switched to his over-the-top flamboyant mode, sashaying toward her, only to get a swift kick in the butt that sent him stumbling out the door.
As the medical room's iron door slammed shut, Gojo spotted the trio of kids slumped against the wall, fast asleep. Yuji was drooling on Megumi's shoulder, Megumi's arms were crossed, and Nobara still clutched her glow stick.
Gojo crouched down, his Six Eyes glinting with mischief, and leaned in close to their ears.
"Sukuna's back—!!!"
"WAAAH!!" Yuji jolted, smacking his head into Megumi's chin, while Nobara's glow stick shot straight into Yuji's nostril.
The three tumbled into a heap, and Gojo doubled over, laughing so hard he pounded the floor. Shoko's irritated door-smashing echoed from the medical room.
---
At the car dealership where Gaio and Marin Kitagawa had bought that R8, a bald salesman trailed nervously behind four strikingly different women, sweat beading on his forehead.
"This SUV has plenty of space…" he started, only to be cut off by Marin bouncing excitedly. "No way, no way! Too old-fashioned!"
Her twin pigtails swung with her movements.
Rin was eyeing a Ferrari, her gaze critical, while Sakura whispered, "Nee-san, that's a two-seater…"
"I know," Rin said, crossing her arms, her black stockings-clad legs tapping impatiently. "But the color's nice."
Artoria stood by a stretched luxury car, measuring the back seat with her hands. "This… can it fit ten portions of takeout?"
The salesman's mouth twitched. "Miss, this is a business model…"
"For family use, let's go with that one!" Marin suddenly pointed at a silver-gray MPV in the corner, winking at Rin. "The back seats fold flat, you know~"
Rin's face flushed red, and she tossed her hair with an arrogant huff.
Marin swiped her card to sign for the Alphard, then tapped her chin, frowning. "What kind of car should we get for Gaio-kun?"
Her words hit like a pause button. Rin and Sakura both froze, deep in thought.
Artoria, watching the three ponder, couldn't hold back anymore. Her mind flashed to the desserts she'd glimpsed in the lounge.
She cleared her throat. "I'm thirsty." Before anyone could respond, she zipped into the lounge, grabbing an entire tray of macarons.
The three women exchanged looks at Artoria's swift exit, bursting into giggles.
Rin leaned close to Marin, lowering her voice. "Marin-nee, what kind of car does Aniki even like? Bugatti? Koenigsegg?"
Marin shook her head, her pigtails bouncing. "A supercar? The seats are too hard. Gaio-kun would hate them."
"Guys don't love supercars?!" Sakura's eyes widened, incredulous.
"Our Gaio-kun's different," Marin said with a smug grin. Her eyes lit up, and she snapped her fingers, pulling out her phone. "Got an idea!"
Rin and Sakura leaned in curiously as Marin dialed. The call connected after one ring, and Kaguya Shinomiya's elegant voice came through. "Miss Kitagawa, a pleasure to hear from you."
Marin wrinkled her nose. "Kaguya, had fun last night?"
Dead silence on the other end.
Kaguya's grip on her phone tightened, her knuckles whitening.
He told her? He actually told her?!
Her mind buzzed, the brief comfort from Gaio's morning comment—"Marin's okay with you"—shattering into pieces.
The main girlfriend… is she here to settle the score? Her throat tightened, her breath catching.
"Okay, okay!" Marin's playful voice broke through, shattering her panic. "I'm not here to start a fight. After all," she dragged out the words, "I'm the one who gave the green light."
Kaguya gasped, slumping back into the leather seat, realizing her back was damp with sweat.
She forced her voice to steady, though it trembled slightly. "…What can I do for you, Miss Kitagawa?"
Marin rattled off her car-shopping dilemma.
Kaguya listened, her tension easing, a soft chuckle escaping. "Send me the address," she said simply.
"Huh?" Marin blinked.
"I'm on my way." Kaguya's voice, for the first time in front of Marin, lost its polished elegance, tinged with eager excitement.
Before the call ended, Marin caught Hayasaka Ai's exasperated shout in the background: "Miss! Your heels!"
In the lounge, Artoria had demolished half the macaron tray, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's. Rin and Sakura glanced at Marin as she pocketed her phone, their expressions curious.
"Shinomiya Kaguya?" Rin raised an eyebrow.
"Yup!" Marin waved her phone, her pigtails bouncing proudly. "She's coming now."
Sakura let out a small "Wow."
Rin crossed her arms, her gaze flicking between the silver Alphard and Marin, thoughtful.
A black sedan glided silently to a stop at the showroom entrance. The driver scurried to open the back door.
Hayasaka Ai stepped out first, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings like a searchlight. Once satisfied, she stepped aside.
Kaguya emerged, her heels clicking crisply on the polished floor.
In the showroom, Marin stood with her hands on her hips, flashing a wide grin. Behind her, Rin crossed her arms, chin raised, as if saying, Let's see what you've got. Sakura's big eyes darted over Kaguya curiously.
Kaguya approached Marin, giving a slight nod. "Miss Kitagawa." Her poise was flawless.
Marin grinned and nodded back.
Kaguya's gaze swept over a flashy orange Lamborghini in the center, pausing briefly before speaking. "A supercar?"
"Yup!" Rin answered for Marin. "A gift for Aniki!"
Kaguya shook her head, her tone calm but firm. "Not suitable."
Rin arched a brow. "Oh?"
"The seats are too hard—he wouldn't like them. Plus, the space is too small. Gaio-kun prefers freedom, like…" Kaguya's cheeks flushed slightly, her mind drifting to last night.
She quickly covered with, "He rode a motorcycle to pick me up last night."
Marin raised an eyebrow, her smile deepening.
Sakura whispered, "Then… a business car? Marin-nee just ordered an Alphard…"
"That's for family use," Kaguya said, her gaze shifting to a sleek, black SUV parked in the corner, its square lines and imposing presence like a dormant steel beast. "Cullinan."
Rin scoffed. "Nouveau riche taste."
Kaguya ignored her, addressing Marin. "High ground clearance, great visibility, suits his habits. Top-tier soundproofing."
She approached the massive vehicle, her fingers brushing the glossy black hood. "Plenty of space—he could nap in the back. The trunk…"
She turned, looking at Marin and Rin. "It can hold a lot for the family."
Rin's crossed arms loosened slightly.
Marin's eyes sparkled as she rushed to the car. "Really? Really?!"
Kaguya nodded. "Four-wheel drive. Optional bulletproof glass and chassis." She looked at Marin. "A mobile fortress. Perfect for him."
Marin slapped the hood. "This is the one!" She pulled out her card, about to call the salesman, then paused. Leaning close to Kaguya with a mischievous grin, she whispered, "Hey, how many times last night?"
P.S. That card Marin's using? Remember it? The unlimited black card Gojo gave to the protagonist.