Things Got a Bit Flirty

Maybe three or four seconds ticked by.

Gojo Satoru’s chin nestled lightly in the crook of Lin Ge’s neck, nuzzling like a little cat.

His bangs couldn’t help but brush back and forth across Lin Ge’s skin.

Feeling the soft, tingly itch on his neck, Lin Ge clenched his fists, veins popping.

How! Was! He! So! Good!

Toying with me like I’m a puppy.

…But he’s so cute like this, I love it!

After a quick thought, Lin Ge lifted a hand, awkwardly patting Gojo Satoru’s back, super gentle, like handling some precious, fragile treasure.

He’d never done this to anyone before.

And Gojo Satoru was the last guy you’d call breakable.

But Lin Ge just felt like doing it.

A pat at first, then his palm just stayed there, pressed close, not moving.

Just a touch.

Heh.

What’s one touch!

Strawberry Shortcake was being this bold.

A little back pat wouldn’t kill anyone!

—

Gojo Satoru didn’t react to Lin Ge’s small gesture.

Sniffing the fresh, pleasant scent coming off him, he suddenly mumbled: “…You smell nice.”

At that, Lin Ge: “…”

Talk about turning the tables!

His throat bobbed. Even with two layers of clothes between them, a scorching heat flared in his body, his heart nearly stopping.

Strawberry Shortcake teasing him like this—he’d lose his mind!

No kidding!

Brain practically fritzing, Lin Ge swallowed hard, stammering: “It’s, uh, okay… probably the laundry detergent.”

Stuff from the Saniwa shop, 19.9 with free shipping.

Supposedly some fancy brand scent?

Strawberry Shortcake liked it, huh.

Gonna snag a few crates for him later!

Little detergent, big win!

…By the way, his breath on my ear—so hot!

Melts your bones.

And it smells good…

Lin Ge never knew his ears could be this sensitive.

No wonder spicy novels always kicked off with ears…

So that’s what it feels like.

Gojo Satoru hummed, went quiet for a bit, then said: “Lin Ge, you’re so skinny.”

“Your collarbone’s poking me, it hurts.”

He griped, but his head didn’t budge an inch.

Classic say-one-thing-mean-another vibes.

Lin Ge: “…”

So sorry!

He felt a little bummed: “…I’ll try to bulk up.”

But not too much—that’s unhealthy and doesn’t look great.

Lin Ge seriously wondered if a gym membership could make him the lean-muscled hunk of his dreams.

Maybe stretch a bit taller too!

Just worried the gym might bail after he paid.

Happens all the time.

Plus…

One push-up felt like flapping butterfly wings, nearly killing him. Would pro gym training actually end him…?

Gojo Satoru said: “Cool.”

Then, a second later.

“You dyed your hair?” His fingers casually toyed with Lin Ge’s red-tipped hair, poking his neck with a finger.

He wasn’t a fan of the color.

Smelled like Cursed Spirit…

He wanted to ask what went down in the Cursed Spirits’ domain, but too much had hit him today—he didn’t know where to start.

Being treated so casually, Lin Ge fought the urge to rub his neck, all flustered, saying: “Nope.”

Strawberry Shortcake, I think we’re getting kinda flirty now!

It was moving so fast, he felt like he was walking on clouds.

Could fall any second.

—

“Liar.”

Gojo Satoru lowered his eyes, long lashes like frosted butterfly wings, stupidly gorgeous.

Lin Ge: “…”

Wrongfully accused, your honor!

He was about to argue back.

Beep beep.

Car horns.

Lin Ge looked up, spotting two black sedans parked nearby.

Each driver’s seat had a suited guy, probably those legendary assistant supervisors.

After scarfing down four Special Grade Cursed Spirits’ energy, his eyesight was sharp—basically mini clairvoyance.

The horns seemed to snap Gojo Satoru out of it.

The second they blared, he pulled back his arms, the cozy closeness gone, like that boundary-crossing hug was just Lin Ge’s daydream.

—

Nodding to the two assistant supervisors stepping out, Gojo Satoru gave a quick greeting. He scanned Lin Ge inch by inch, lingering for who-knows-how-long before pursing his lips, looking away, his crisp voice cutting in: “…Sorry, I did something weird without asking.”

Seeing his blank face, like nothing happened, Lin Ge felt a twinge of disappointment but waved it off fast: “What’re you talking about?”

Weird or not, he loved getting hugged!

…But, that’s it, huh? Total bummer.

He tested: “We chasing those runaway Cursed Spirits now?”

He was super curious.

Gojo Satoru shook his head: “Nah, Cursed Spirits can wait.”

Then he twisted his wrist, lazily pointing at the squashed brain goo by his feet for the approaching assistant supervisors: “Whatever—glass jar, trash bag, just clean this up.”

His tone and face were ice-cold, dripping with disgust, like even mentioning it dirtied his mouth.

Assistant supervisor Kiyotaka Ijichi nodded quick, directing his colleague to grab a shovel from the car to scrape up the “cursed object” stuck to the ground.

Was it a cursed object?

Kiyotaka Ijichi wasn’t sure.

Looked… really nasty.

While cleaning, he sneakily poked it with the shovel.

The second he did, the gooey mess twitched, a mouth slowly forming at the top.

“Gojo…” Satoru.

Before it got the second word out, Gojo Satoru stomped it again.

“Shut up.”

Still not satisfied, he even ground his shoe into it.

Kensaku: “…”

Mouth shut, dying again.

Stop! Stop!

Can’t you just end it, huh?

He really regretted it, for real!

Shouldn’t have taunted earlier.

Can’t die, can’t live.

Getting stepped on and humiliated every now and then.

Kiyotaka Ijichi: “…”

His shovel-holding hand shook.

Aahhh!!

He knew it, he knew it!

Anything Gojo-san deals with is never simple!

Glancing at his colleague, Kiyotaka Ijichi closed his eyes.

Here… here goes!

—

While the suited guys hustled, Lin Ge scratched his head, about to say something, when he saw Gojo Satoru bend down, lean in, and pick up the body with its face covered by clothes.

Their eyes locked across the air.

Gojo Satoru said: “Sorry, can’t hang with you right now…”

Another apology.

Lin Ge felt a bit off: “No biggie, no biggie, don’t say that.”

Strawberry Shortcake was being weird today.

Sudden hug, sudden distance, sudden sorry…

Was this some kinda loyalty test?

But he was so happy.

So this was what being watched felt like.

Even knowing he might end up digging wild veggies if this kept up, he’d eat it up.

Lin Ge could even convince himself digging veggies was for a healthy diet.

Veganism’s trendy now, right?

Heart still racing, Lin Ge pursed his lips, glancing at the sky.

The horizon was slowly darkening.

He’d teleported here past three in the afternoon, then chatted with the Cursed Spirits in the domain for over an hour. Before he knew it, it was almost dinnertime.

But he wasn’t in the mood to eat.

Weird, first time for that.

He didn’t sulk long.

‘Cause Strawberry Shortcake talked to him again.

“Where you staying tonight? Got a hotel booked?”

Lin Ge rubbed his burning ears: “Not yet.”

He’d been CPU-ing Cursed Spirits since he landed—where was the time to book a hotel?

Gojo Satoru thought for a sec, then said: “Come to Tokyo Jujutsu High with me.”

Lin Ge froze: “…Huh?”

Lin Ge confused, Lin Ge shocked, Lin Ge ecstatic!

Wait, moving that fast?

They’re sleeping under one roof?!

Yes yes yes!

He loved loyalty tests!

Loyalty tests were the greatest invention ever!

“Hang there for a bit, okay?”

Gojo Satoru looked at him steadily.

“Tonight, after I deal with stuff, we’ll talk about your thing.”

No clue what his “thing” was, but Lin Ge agreed without a second thought: “Sure!”