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

"Eh—"

Gojo Satoru's eyes drooped slightly, adopting a pitiful posture.

Miyazawa Chinatsu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "It's not meant as a derogatory term."

Fujii Seiya chimed in, "Yes, she's quite likable."

Gojo Satoru immediately perked up, raising an eyebrow: "So that's a compliment?"

That's a compliment.

Fujii Makoto: "You're really popular today. Several kids were pestering me, asking if I could bring a handsome older brother next time."

Gojo Satoru smiled, clearly pleased: "Kids have good taste."

Makoto Fujii: "Next time, I'll fix that two-man fighter jet in the warehouse in advance."

Gojo Satoru thanked him in a lighthearted tone: "Thank you, Mr. Fujii."

Fujii Makoto waved his hand and casually said, "Don't mention it. You really know how to play with kids today. If my shop ever holds any kind of competition, I'd like to invite you to help set the tone."

Gojo Satoru raised an eyebrow: "In what capacity?"

Makoto Fujii stroked his chin and thought for a moment: "A popular special guest, perhaps."

Miyazawa Chinatsu chimed in from the side, "Or perhaps a hidden boss."

Gojo Satoru laughed out loud: "They all sound good."

Sumi Kichikawa stood to the side, watching them quietly.

After Fujii Makoto and Miyazawa Chinatsu left, only Sumirei Kawakawa and Gojo Satoru remained at the door.

The hospital was much quieter than it was in the afternoon.

The automatic door opened and closed, letting in a cool evening breeze. The little bear balloon that hadn't been removed from the doorway spun faintly in the cool air.

Gojo Satoru stood next to the balloon, clutching the teddy bear certificate that Kikkawa Sumi had promised him like a precious treasure.

I haven't put it down since I first picked it up.

Kikawa Sumi glanced at his restless fingers, her gaze sweeping over his brow bone hidden by sunglasses.

The breathtaking amazement I felt that afternoon, when those unsuspecting pale blue eyes suddenly appeared before me, has only now begun to subside.

Once my heartbeat stabilized, my thoughts became clear again.

"You can put it in my file folder," Sumi Kichikawa said, her voice already back to its usual gentle tone.

Gojo Satoru immediately pulled his hands back into his clothes, refusing outright.

"don't want."

"It wrinkles easily when you hold it."

"I will take it very carefully."

Seeing his possessive attitude, Sumire Kikawa's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Perhaps because the intense visual impact had subsided, when he looked at Gojo Satoru again, he still felt that no matter how striking Gojo's appearance was, he still had a childlike willfulness in his bones.

Gojo Satoru, with his keen senses, immediately noticed the subtle change in his expression.

"Xiao Cheng, what are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing."

"Definitely."

Kikawa Sumi didn't play along with his banter; her gaze fell on the paper: "You really like this?"

"Of course." Gojo Satoru raised the certificate slightly, his tone carrying a hint of self-righteous pride, "It was written by Sumi herself."

Kikawa Sumi looked at him quietly for two seconds.

This is actually a very poor quality certificate. The paper is ordinary, the border is childish, and the bear sticker is even a bit crooked.

But Gojo Satoru's tone was so serious, it made it seem like this piece of paper was really precious.

Kikawa Sumi said in a low voice, "We can use books to flatten it when we get back."

Gojo Satoru blinked: "Go back?"

Kikawa Sumi stopped.

Gojo Satoru looked at him, and the corners of his lips gradually and brightly curved upwards.

"Does Dr. Kosuke want to take me home again?"

The incandescent light from the top shone on Gojo Satoru's white hair.

He lowered his head slightly, waiting to see Kikawa Sumi show that awkward and helpless expression, just like she had in the storage room earlier.

This time, however, Sumi Kichikawa did not avoid his gaze.

He held the file bag, his fingertips lightly stroking the edge of the kraft paper, then turned around, his gaze meeting Gojo Satoru's eyes with utmost calmness.

"Do you have any other plans for tonight?"

Gojo Satoru's smile paused almost imperceptibly.

His prepared banter was somewhat thrown off balance by Sumi Kichikawa's unwavering attitude.

"...No."

"What about tomorrow?"

Sumi Kichikawa's questioning was calm and natural, as if she were just confirming the itinerary, but Satoru Gojo inexplicably felt as if he were being gently enveloped by an invisible net.

This feeling is strange and unfamiliar.

He unconsciously curled his fingers.

"...Nothing's happening this morning."

Sumire Kawakawa nodded.

"Would you like to stay at my place?"

This time, Gojo Satoru was truly stunned.

Kikawa Sumi looked at him with gentle, yet unfathomable eyes.

"It's getting late today." His voice was soft, but every word was clear. "If you don't want to go through any more trouble after dinner, you can stay in the guest room tonight."

He extended the invitation so casually.

It took Gojo Satoru a full three seconds to find his voice.

"A guest room?" he repeated, his Adam's apple bobbing very slightly.

"Yes, a guest room." Sumi Kichikawa looked at him, a slight smile even appearing on her lips.

This feeling of being subtly "suppressed" made Gojo Satoru feel an extremely unfamiliar sense of unease.

He instinctively wanted to regain his home turf, so he took out his phone with one hand, trying to cover up his awkward panic with a joke.

"May I take a picture to remember this moment?"

"What are you filming?"

"Recording the historic moment when Xiaocheng took the initiative to invite me to stay overnight."

Kikawa Sumi switched the file folder to one hand, her tone slightly cool, yet clearly indulgent: "Then you don't have to come."

"Come on, of course I'll come." Gojo Satoru immediately shoved the phone back into the phone.

Kikawa Sumi lowered her eyes, and the curve of her lips deepened.

Looking at his lowered eyelashes, Gojo Satoru suddenly felt his throat go dry. Those flirtatious remarks that came out of nowhere inexplicably became impossible to utter.

He could only clutch the little bear certificate tightly, his voice softening unconsciously, revealing a docility that even he himself didn't realize.

"Then I'll have to bother Xiaocheng tonight."

"do not bother."

By the time the two walked out of the hospital, it was completely dark.

Gojo Satoru held the certificate in one hand and carried the bag of stickers that hadn't been handed out yet in the other.

Seeing how carefully he handled it, Sumi Kikawa couldn't help but say, "The paper really will wrinkle."

"Absolutely not." Gojo Satoru said confidently, "I have a way to protect it."

"...Find a folder to put it away when you get home."

"No way!" Gojo Satoru immediately retorted. "I want to stick it up."

"Where should I put it?"

"On the refrigerator door."

Sumi Kichikawa paused slightly in her steps.

"refrigerator?"

"Hmm." Gojou Satoru turned his head with a smile, "That way, when Sumi gets the milk every day, she can see the badge of being an excellent temporary helper."

Sumi Kichikawa imagined it for a moment.

The refrigerator door already had a shopping list, convenience store coupons, a note reminding me to buy milk, and an abstract kitten that Gojo Satoru had casually drawn before.

If we could add another certificate...

Surprisingly, it felt quite suitable.

So he nodded: "Okay."

On the way to the station, Gojo Satoru casually asked, "Shall we take the tram back?"

"Um."

"You've been running around all afternoon, and then you have to squeeze onto the tram and transfer. Aren't you tired?"

"fine."

Gojo Satoru turned to look at him: "Does Sumi always squeeze in like this?"

Most of the time.

"Will you take the tram next time you need to move sports equipment?"

"If there's a lot of stuff, I'll call a car, or ask Mr. Fujii for help."

Gojo Satoru made a thoughtful "hmm" sound.

Sumire Kikkawa looked at him: "What's wrong?"

"I just think it would be much more convenient for Xiaocheng if she had a car."

Sumire Kikkawa paused slightly.

He had considered buying a car before, but since the hospital wasn't far from his apartment and he could easily shop nearby, he didn't really need one.

Buying a car, maintaining it, and parking it are all extra expenses. Although the tasker has a lot of savings, these are not necessary for him, and he is not a materialistic person.

But after Gojo Satoru said those words, Sumire Kichikawa suddenly thought of something—

If he had a car, he could have taken Satoru home today without having to transfer or check the time. He wouldn't even have had to make Satoru squeeze onto the train with his award certificate in hand.

Gojo Satoru was still counting on his fingers: "See, next time there's a promotion, you can just ship the game console back. It'll be convenient to go to Mr. Fujii's shop too, and you can even buy desserts there."

Upon hearing the last sentence, Sumi Kichikawa turned to look at him.

Gojo Satoru confidently stated, "Buying desserts is also important."

Kikawa Sumi couldn't help but chuckle, "Buying a car just to buy desserts, isn't that a bit too much of a waste?"

"Then how about giving it to me as well?"

Sumi Kichikawa slowed her pace a little.

Gojo Satoru was clearly speaking offhand. He seemed to be in a good mood, walking with a slight sway, his steps light and his tone cheerful.

"Sometimes my workplace is quite far away. If Xiaocheng has a car, she might be able to take me to the station."

He was just joking.

But Sumi Kichikawa followed those words and conjured up that image in her mind.

The morning sunlight streamed through the windshield, and Gojo Satoru, with his long arms and legs, nestled in the passenger seat, the seatbelt diagonally across his shoulders, his white hair gleaming in the light.

After getting in the car, this person might first fidget with adjusting the seat, then rummage through the car stereo, and finally turn around with a smile and ask if they could take a slightly longer route to buy the newly released limited edition daifuku.

I would hold the steering wheel, helplessly yet indulgently reminding him not to drop the pastry on the seat.

Just imagining this extremely ordinary daily life, Sumi Kichikawa suddenly felt a sense of anticipation.

"I can consider it." He stopped and turned around.

Gojo Satoru thought he had misheard: "What?"

"Buy a car."

Gojo Satoru turned his head and blinked through his sunglasses: "Really?"

"Um."

Gojo Satoru grinned, revealing a glimpse of his pearly white teeth: "For a game console, and dessert?"

Kikawa looked directly into his eyes, her gaze calm and focused.

"I can also give it to you."

Gojo Satoru's smile faltered.

Kikawa Sumi continued walking forward, her voice steady: "Aren't you often very busy? Sometimes you have to go to places that are quite far away. If it's on my way, giving you a ride is no problem."

Gojo Satoru paused for a moment.

He lowered his head slightly and looked at Sumire for two seconds. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes; he clearly hadn't expected the other to respond to the conversation so seriously.

But he didn't think about it too deeply.

Who would buy a car just because someone made a joke?

He knew better than anyone that even someone as powerful as himself couldn't make decisions for other people's lives—just as you can't pull up someone who doesn't want to reach out; people always have to live according to their own will.

Similarly, he didn't think he had such great ability that he could really occupy a decisive position in Sumi Kichikawa's life with a lighthearted joke.

Buying a car is Sumi's own business. Sumi probably had this plan a long time ago. At this moment, going along with what he said is probably just her usual tolerant temper, patiently coaxing him and cooperating with his nonsense.

"Is that so..."

He gave a muffled laugh, his voice low, which quickly blended into the sound of car horns honking around the street corner.

When he turned his head back to look at Susumu Kikkawa, the barely perceptible surprise on his face had completely disappeared.

His tone brightened again: "Then I'll have to make sure I'm on the way every day from now on."

Sumi Kikawa looked at him and said, "Don't let it affect your work."

"No," Gojo Satoru said confidently. "I'm very good at managing my time."

Remembering how this person usually appeared and disappeared like a cat, coming and going as he pleased, Sumire Kichikawa remained somewhat skeptical of his statement.