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

The unfolded suitcase was fastened again, and the local specialties that Aunt Tazi had given them were neatly arranged and categorized.

Even the few jars of homemade jam that were easily damaged were carefully separated by Sumi Kichikawa using a soft, dry towel, and then neatly nestled between her clothes.

Gojo Satoru sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, resting his chin on his hand, watching Sumi Kikawa carefully stuff the last bag of plums into the gap.

"Xiao Cheng," he said lazily, "you'd really be perfect as a tour guide."

As Kikawa Sumi was bending down to lock the suitcase, she turned her head and asked, "Why?"

"Because you think of everything in advance." Gojo Satoru's gaze followed his movements. "Where to stay, what to eat, what to bring, how to pack it so it won't break. It feels like I don't even need to bring my brain when I go out with you."

With a "click," the box latch locked.

Without looking up, Sumi Kikawa said, "Shouldn't she be suitable as a boyfriend?"

Gojo Satoru paused for a moment, then chuckled, "You're right, absolutely."

He suddenly cupped his face and said shyly, "Gojo-sensei is wrong. I should say that Xiaocheng is really suitable to be a boyfriend. I feel like I don't have to worry about these things anymore after having Xiaocheng. Gojo-sensei is so lucky."

Kikawa Sumi straightened up, looking at the adorable white-haired young man sitting cross-legged there, a faint smile appearing in her eyes: "Then please continue to entrust all of this to me, Gojo-sensei, so that I can be a qualified boyfriend."

Gojo Satoru tilted his head, his pale blue eyes blinking through his glasses.

"Dr. Kirikawa is so reassuring." He drawled, then suddenly stood up and took two steps closer to Kirikawa Sumi.

Let me reward you—

As he spoke, he opened his arms, as if to pounce on Susumu Kisakawa and kiss her face.

Startled by his sudden action, Kikawa Sumi instinctively reached out and caught the person who lunged at her.

Gojo Satoru snuggled into his arms, tilted his head, and brought his lips close to his cheek. His movements looked fierce, but the force was as light as a big cat rubbing against someone.

Kikawa Sumi was pushed back half a step by him, and with one hand she put her arm around Gojo Satoru's waist to steady herself, while the other hand subconsciously protected the back of his head.

Gojo Satoru tilted his head, his nose brushing against his cheek, his lips pausing less than a centimeter from the side of his face.

It was as if she was deliberately testing his reaction.

Sumi Kichikawa's heart skipped a beat.

He could feel the warmth of Gojo Satoru against his body, the pleasant scent of pine needles, and the slightly itchy sensation of Gojo Satoru's breath on his face.

A surge of emotion welled up in his chest, causing him to unconsciously tighten his grip on Gojo Satoru's waist.

He did not dodge.

He even tilted his head slightly to give Gojo Satoru a better angle.

Gojo Satoru's lips finally touched Sumi Kikawa's cheek.

Instantly separate.

Kikawa Sumi felt a mix of tenderness and itch at his youthful yet bold demeanor.

He lowered his head, looked at the white-haired youth nestled in his arms with a smug expression, and couldn't help but smile.

He was just about to say something—

"Mr. Kikawa, Mr. Gojo, Aunt Touko said..."

The sliding door to the guest room was pushed open, and Natsume's voice stopped abruptly, like a cassette tape being forcibly cut off.

The boy, holding a small basket of washed fruit, stood frozen at the doorway.

The scene before him was simply too overwhelming—

Gojo Satoru threw himself onto Kisakawa Sumire, who had one arm around Gojo Satoru's waist and the other hand protecting the back of his head. Then Gojo Satoru tilted his head and pressed his lips against Kisakawa Sumire's cheek, their bodies pressed tightly together.

It's easy to guess what the two of them were doing.

Natsume's face flushed bright red instantly, the color spreading all the way down to the base of his neck.

"I'm so sorry!" The boy took a big step back, almost knocking over the fruit basket he was carrying. "I didn't see it—I'll come back later!"

He turned around and tried to run away.

"Natsume."

Sumi Kichikawa called out to him in a slightly hoarse voice.

Natsume froze at the doorway, slowly turning around, unsure where to look, his ears burning red.

Sumi Kichikawa took a deep breath.

He could feel his ears burning.

To be honest, his first reaction when he was caught was panic, but his emotions were complicated, a mix of nervousness and excitement.

Because Natsume was one of his few truly close friends.

What he wants to do now is to formally introduce Gojo Satoru as his lover to his friends for the first time.

He didn't want to just say "friends" anymore.

That person was clearly her boyfriend.

Kikawa Sumi took Gojo Satoru's hand and wedged her fingers one by one between his, their ten fingers intertwined.

He looked at the bewildered boy at the door, his voice regaining its composure, carrying a solemn gentleness.

"Natsume, let me formally introduce myself to you."

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze lingering on Gojo Satoru's face for a second, a tenderness in his eyes that even he himself didn't realize: "This is Satoru. Not a friend, but my lover."

Natsume suddenly raised his head, his eyes widening slightly.

His gaze fell on their tightly clasped hands, then on Kikawa Sumi's open and honest eyes.

The vague sense of unease that had been lingering in his mind for the past few days suddenly became clear.

Why does Mr. Kikawa always look at Mr. Gojo with such focused eyes?

Why is Mr. Gojo more relaxed and willful in front of Mr. Kikawa than usual?

That unique atmosphere that always belonged only to the two of them wasn't like that of brothers, nor was it just a simple friendship.

It turned out to be the case.

It's my lover.

The embarrassment on the boy's face gradually faded, replaced by a genuine, radiant smile.

"...I see." Natsume's eyes crinkled into a smile, a sincere light shining in them. "That's really, really great."

He bowed deeply to the two of them.

"I wish you happiness, Mr. Kikawa, Mr. Gojo." The boy straightened up, looked at Kikawa Sumi, and said in a soft but firm voice.

"Thank you for telling me this, Mr. Kikawa. I'm so glad to have seen you find your own bond..."

Looking at the gentle boy in front of her, Sumi Kichikawa recalled their conversation before she left. The boy had looked just like that back then. She wished him to find his own bond.

He squeezed Gojo Satoru's hand and whispered, "Thank you, Natsume."

Gojo Satoru stood quietly to the side, watching this scene without saying a word, only a warm smile on his lips.