The Amusement Park

Finally, after they came out of the Haunted House and no longer had the darkness to hide in, Mori Nening was willing to release her tightly wrapped arms.

Her face red, she lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes again.

Gojo Satoru sat on a bench, drinking orange juice. Mori Nening sat there too.

Most students who passed by couldn't help glancing at the two of them—or, more accurately, at Gojo Satoru.

There was no shortage of handsome boys and pretty girls at school, but someone like Gojo Satoru—with his tall frame, extraordinary aura, and striking looks—was rare.

Just then, a student, encouraged by her friends, shyly walked over.

"Hello!"

Mori Nening, sitting beside him, wasn't pleased. Her gaze turned dangerous, and she even crushed her empty cup.

"Can I help you?"

Leaning back on the bench with one leg crossed and an arm draped over its back, Gojo Satoru asked like a delinquent.

Most likely, it was the girl's first time asking someone for their contact information, and she'd only come over after her friends pushed her to. Her face was bright red as she stammered out her question.

"Um, would you mind giving me—"

"No!"

Mori Nening cut her off angrily before she could finish.

As if staking her claim, she wrapped both arms around Gojo Satoru's and pressed her chest against him. Glaring at the girl, she continued with a smile.

"Can't you see he already has a girlfriend?"

"I'm so sorry!"

The girl bowed and immediately ran off, looking terribly disappointed.

At first, there had been such a big gap between the two of them that she'd thought they were just sitting on the same bench by chance. She hadn't expected this.

She returned to her friends and, after they comforted her, quietly left with them.

"Hmph! Gojo-kun, you're way too popular. I was sitting right beside you, and she still came over to ask for your contact information."

Mori Nening still had her arms wrapped around him, and she was a little annoyed.

But Gojo Satoru didn't reply. He simply kept smiling and looked at her in silence.

Noticing that he was staring at her, Mori Nening finally realized what she was doing and hurriedly let go.

She moved away from him and waved both hands up and down, stammering as she tried to explain.

"No, that's not what I meant... I was just... just..."

Her words trailed off. She placed her hands on her thighs and sat up straight, her face bright red. She didn't dare look at Gojo Satoru, instead staring at her hands.

Seeing her sit like that, Gojo Satoru might have thought she was a well-behaved girl if she hadn't just been clinging to him.

"Phew!"

Sitting on a chair at a drinks stall, Mori Nening took a sip of juice and let out a long breath.

"I'm so tired, but I'm having a great time! Why aren't you tired at all, Gojo-kun?"

After the Haunted House, they'd gone on all sorts of rides around the amusement park. They'd tried everything from the Roller Coaster to the giant pendulum ride.

But Gojo Satoru didn't seem to have changed at all, while she was completely exhausted.

She'd also changed from the shy girl she'd been at first and was gradually getting into the role of his girlfriend.

Gojo Satoru, sitting across from her, didn't feel tired. When she asked, he just smiled and replied.

"How could I get tired when I'm having fun with someone I like?"

"Whoa!"

She really couldn't handle this!

Even if she could relax under normal circumstances, the moment he looked at her or teased her, she couldn't stay calm at all!

That face of his was just too unfair!

"Gojo-kun seems really good at making girls happy. Is that how you ended up with two girlfriends?"

"That's only part of it. When you're with someone you like, there are a lot of things to consider. If you've only got one thing going for you, it's never going to work out."

His answer made him feel a little sentimental.

Thump!

He caught the water bottle that came flying from behind.

Mori Nening was startled by the sudden interruption. She had just turned to look behind Gojo Satoru when a short-haired girl came running over.

At the sound of her footsteps, Gojo Satoru's smile disappeared, and a helpless look came over him.

"If you can help it, I really wish you'd stop ambushing me every time."

But the culprit didn't seem to care. She just laughed and explained.

"Tch.

"It's not like you're ever going to get hurt. You always manage to react in time."

Hearing Ibuki Mio's obnoxious voice, Gojo Satoru warned her.

"Then next time, I just won't dodge. I'll take the hit and report you."

That didn't make her back down. If anything, her smile grew as she shamelessly replied.

"Sounds great to me. For something like this, I'd only lose a few points anyway. I'd be thrilled if I managed to hit you."

"How obsessed are you, anyway?"

He hadn't expected her to say that. As expected, none of those half-baked martial arts enthusiasts had a normal brain.

"You're the one who keeps avoiding me! We agreed to a one-on-one!"

"I never agreed to that. Besides, the Midterm Exam is tomorrow. Are your grades going to be okay? And you're still out playing at the amusement park?"

As he recalled, she was only an average student. The exams were so close, and she still had time to go out and have fun.

"Don't worry. I'm pretty good.

"But you're such a jerk! You've managed to win over another girl!"

Looking at Mori Nening, who was sitting across from Gojo Satoru, Ibuki Mio couldn't hold back. What was so great about this jerk, anyway?

He was just a little better-looking, a little better at school, and a little stronger than normal...

Actually... those did sound pretty great!

No, no!

Even if he was great, he was still a jerk!

Mori Nening's face changed when she was called out. Since this girl seemed to be Gojo-kun's friend, she was about to explain—but Gojo Satoru put a hand on her shoulder.

"That's a really rude thing to say. Our love is the real deal."

Gojo Satoru had come up behind Mori Nening, and he said it with a broad smile.

At his words, Mori Nening lowered her head, her cheeks flushing again.

But Ibuki didn't agree with him.

"Tch. You call this real love?

"But you're free right now, aren't you?

"Come with me to the Karate Club. If we fight there, it won't count as school violence as long as someone witnesses it."

She really thought this through.

It was a good idea, but his schedule was already packed. Once he'd rested a bit, he'd be going back to the rides.

"No. Which of your eyes says I'm free?

"I've got a girlfriend to spend time with. Why would I go fight you?"

Ibuki was left speechless.

He wouldn't go with her, and she couldn't force him. She said she didn't care about getting punished, but she was only bluffing.

After thinking it over, she immediately said, "Then I'll come along with you two!

"I'll be the third wheel. I'll make sure neither of you has a good time!"

Faced with such shameless words, Gojo Satoru and Mori Nening were both speechless.

What kind of girl acted like that?

Still, so they could enjoy themselves in peace, they gave her a promise they didn't mean to keep.

"How about this? We'll spar after the exams. I really am busy right now."

"Who knows if you're just messing with me again!"

Ibuki Mio wasn't going to believe him this time. Nine out of ten things he said were lies. Since they weren't going to fight anyway, she might as well make things difficult for him.

But Gojo Satoru's next words made her believe him.

"If I don't spar with you after the Midterm Exam, then I'll break up with her."

As he spoke, he patted Mori Nening's shoulder.

Mori Nening caught on and nodded too. She wasn't happy about it, but the outcome wouldn't change either way.

They'd agreed on this from the start.

So they might as well enjoy themselves today. It would be a waste to let Ibuki interrupt them.

Seeing Mori Nening nod, Ibuki Mio couldn't argue, but she still left them with a threat.

"You really are a jerk, joking about something like that.

"But remember! I'm coming to find you after the exam, so don't back out!"

After saying that, she glared fiercely at Gojo Satoru before leaving.