I'm the best-behaved drunk

By the time everyone returned to the dorms, the sky had gone completely dark.

The last glow of sunset vanished behind the mountains, leaving only a faint streak of orange-red on the horizon. Lights came on one after another in the dorm windows, like warm stars in the night.

Normally, everyone would have headed back to their own rooms to rest by now.

But today was different.

"Don't head back just yet, everyone. Come to Zhiyan's room first."

Walking at the front, Shoko spoke without looking back. Her voice was excited, its rising lilt carrying a hint of mystery.

Everyone paused.

Wana reacted first, jogging a few steps to catch up with Shoko and linking arms with her.

"Shoko! Why are we going to my brother's room? Is something good happening?"

Shoko glanced at her, and the thought of what was about to happen put her in an excellent mood.

"We're going to drink something good."

Wana's eyes lit up.

"Something good? What is it?"

Shoko didn't answer, merely giving her a mysterious smile.

That smile only made Wana more curious.

"Come on, tell me! What is it?"

Shoko kept smiling without a word.

Wana bounced impatiently on her feet, but there was nothing she could do.

Satoru Gojo had been listening intently from behind. The words "something good" immediately perked him up.

He hurried forward and sidled up to Zhiyan.

"Hey, Zhiyan, what's this good stuff Shoko's talking about?"

Zhiyan glanced at him. "How would I know?"

Satoru Gojo slung an arm around Zhiyan. "Quit pretending. She's your wife, and you don't know? Who are you trying to fool?"

"Something to eat? Something to drink? Something to play with? You definitely know, don't you?"

Zhiyan didn't answer. Instead, a subtle change came over his expression.

It was hard to describe-if one had to put it into words, it was probably...

A little... constipated.

Satoru Gojo froze.

He had known Zhiyan for seven years and had never seen that expression before.

This guy always looked utterly unruffled. Even if the sky fell, his expression wouldn't change. But now, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and his brow furrowed as though he were enduring something he couldn't bring himself to mention.

"You..." Satoru Gojo stared at him. "What's wrong with you?"

Zhiyan looked away.

"Nothing."

His voice was as flat as ever, but for some reason, he sounded a little... guilty?

Satoru Gojo's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

He turned to Suguru Geto.

"Geto, do you know?"

Suguru Geto shook his head.

"If Zenin doesn't even know, I certainly wouldn't."

His gaze swept over Zhiyan's face, and his lips curved slightly.

"But judging by Zenin's expression, it must be something... very interesting."

Satoru Gojo looked at Xian Di next.

Xian Di was still strolling along beside Suguru Geto, but a closer look revealed the slight lift at the corners of his eyes and the faint smile playing on his lips.

That expression clearly said he was... enjoying the show.

Satoru Gojo was even more confused.

"What are you all being so cryptic about?"

No one answered him.

The group arrived outside Zhiyan's dorm room.

The moment the door opened, a faint fragrance of ink and fresh bamboo leaves greeted them.

The lights were off, but moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spreading silver-white across the floor. Soft and cool, it illuminated the whole room while lending it a hazy, poetic air.

Jujutsu High treated its students quite well when it came to housing, giving them plenty of space.

To the left of the entrance, built-in bookshelves covered an entire wall from floor to ceiling. All kinds of books were neatly arranged on them-ancient texts from Jujutsu Society, records brought from the Zenin Clan, and plenty of literature and history books for leisure reading.

A dark desk stood before the shelves, holding an old-fashioned lamp, an inkstone, several calligraphy brushes, and a stack of rice paper covered in small, neat regular script.

To the right stood a large bed with understated dark bedding. An open book and a small incense burner rested on the bedside table. A faint sandalwood fragrance drifted from the burner, adding a touch of tranquility to the room.

The most striking part was the area beside the glass door.

Beyond it lay a small balcony. Moonlight streamed in unobstructed, coating everything near the door in silver. A low tea table stood nearby, with several dark cushions scattered casually across the floor. A celadon tea set sat on the table, glowing softly in the moonlight.

Several potted plants grew on the balcony outside. The night breeze gently stirred their leaves, creating a soft rustle that sounded especially pleasant in the quiet night.

Satoru Gojo began looking around the moment he entered.

"Wow, Zhiyan, you really know how to decorate! How about helping me with my room sometime?"

"Dream on," Zhiyan said irritably.

He walked to the glass door and gently opened it. The night breeze rushed in, carrying the crisp scent unique to the mountain woods. Mingled with the room's sandalwood fragrance, it smelled especially lovely.

"Make yourselves comfortable," he said.

Wana headed straight for the balcony as soon as she entered, leaning over the railing to look outside.

"Wow-this night breeze feels so nice, bro!"

Outside stretched a chain of mountains, shimmering faintly silver beneath the moonlight. The distant peaks faded in and out of view like an ink-wash painting.

"All right, all right! Tell us already! What's this good stuff?"

He stood in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips, his face full of impatience.

Shoko glanced at him, then turned to Zhiyan.

She reached out and patted Zhiyan's arm.

There was something perfectly matter-of-fact about the gesture.

"Take it out, Zhiyan."

Zhiyan looked at her, his gaze filled with utter... resignation.

He raised his hand.

As cursed energy surged, the shadow beside him rippled like a disturbed pool of water. Then something slowly emerged from it-

It was a bottle of alcohol.

Pink packaging, an elegant bottle, and cute fruit illustrations printed on it.

Then came a second bottle, a third... six in total, neatly lined up on the floor.

Satoru Gojo froze.

Suguru Geto froze.

Wana froze.

Xian Di's hand paused on its way toward the teapot-having spotted the tea set, he naturally couldn't leave it neglected-and his smile deepened.

The room fell silent for a few seconds.

Then Suguru Geto was the first to speak.

"Alcohol?"

There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Shoko nodded and answered as though it were perfectly obvious.

"Yep. Alcohol."

Suguru Geto looked at her, then at Zhiyan, and finally at the six adorably packaged bottles of fruit wine on the floor.

His expression grew complicated.

"Um... Shoko, I don't think Jujutsu High allows students to drink, does it?"

Shoko tilted her head.

"Isn't it fine as long as we don't get caught?"

Her tone was so natural that it was easy to find her convincing.

The corner of Suguru Geto's mouth twitched.

He looked at Zhiyan.

Zhiyan met his gaze without speaking.

But his expression clearly said-

There's nothing I can do either.

Suguru Geto's mouth twitched even harder.

He hadn't known Zhiyan long, but he already understood his personality well. Steady, disciplined, thorough, and never one to step out of line. If even he had tacitly approved of this, that meant...

He could no longer keep it under control.

Suguru Geto looked at Satoru Gojo next.

Satoru Gojo was crouching on the floor, leaning so close to the bottles that his nose nearly touched them. His sunglasses had slipped to the tip of his nose, revealing sky-blue eyes now brimming with curiosity as he stared at the pink bottles.

"So this is alcohol..."

He murmured to himself and reached out to poke a bottle.

"Looks pretty tasty."

Suguru Geto pressed a hand to his forehead.

Curiosity had completely taken over this guy's brain. He was utterly hopeless.

He pinned his last hope on Xian Di.

Xian Di's gaze had also settled on the bottles. On closer inspection, a certain gleam was unmistakable in his eyes.

It was a gleam of... interest.

Naturally, someone accustomed to drinking tea would be interested in alcohol.

Suguru Geto gave up.

He sighed and smiled helplessly.

"All right, then. Let's drink."

Shoko nodded in satisfaction.

"That's more like it."

She picked up a bottle and handed it to Wana.

Wana accepted it, her eyes sparkling.

"Thanks, Shoko!"

Shoko picked up another bottle and handed it to Suguru Geto.

Suguru Geto took it, looking at the pink packaging with mixed feelings.

Shoko continued handing them out, one bottle each, before finally taking one for herself.

Six people, six bottles, all seated neatly around the tea table.

Shoko looked around at everyone and asked a question.

"You can all drink, right?"

Everyone except Satoru Gojo nodded.

Shoko's gaze settled on him.

Then everyone else turned to look at him too.

Satoru Gojo grew a little uncomfortable under their stares.

"Wh-what?"

Wana stared at him sharply.

"Why aren't you answering?"

Satoru Gojo opened his mouth.

"I, I..."

Wana narrowed her eyes.

"Don't tell me you can't hold your liquor, or you're a bad drunk?"

Satoru Gojo jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Who says! Of course I can drink! And I'm the best-behaved drunk!"

His voice was loud-so loud that it sounded a little guilty.

Wana kept staring at him.

"Really?"

Satoru Gojo puffed out his chest.

"Of course!"

Wana still stared at him.

Her stare made Satoru Gojo uneasy, so he simply turned his face away and stopped looking at her.

"Anyway, all that matters is that I can drink."

His guilty manner only made Wana more suspicious.

But she didn't press him further, merely letting out a huff.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Shoko clapped her hands.

"All right, let's officially get started!"

She picked up her drink, expertly pulled the tab, and then-

Tilted her head back and gulped it down.

The gesture was far too bold for a sixteen-year-old girl.

Shoko lowered her bottle and let out a soft breath.

"That hits the spot."

Satisfaction filled her face, making the beauty mark by her eye look especially vivid.

Only then did everyone else react and open their own drinks.

The clicks of tabs opening rang out one after another.

Wana imitated Shoko, tilting her head back and taking a big gulp.

"Cough, cough, cough-!"

She choked and coughed, her face instantly turning red.

"It's... it's kind of strong!"

Shoko laughed and patted her back.

"Drink slowly. There's no rush."

Wana was almost in tears, but she still couldn't bear to put her bottle down.

"It's good! Strong, but good!"

Suguru Geto took a small sip, and his furrowed brows relaxed a little.

"Fruit wine... not much alcohol in it, and it tastes pretty good."

Xian Di lifted his bottle and savored it as though he were tasting tea.

"Mm, it really is good."

His eyes brightened a little.

Satoru Gojo looked at the bottle in his hand and hesitated for a few seconds.

He gently pulled the tab, brought the opening to his lips, and cautiously took a tiny sip.

The liquid slid down his throat.

A faint burn spread over his tongue, but sweetness soon covered it. That sweetness was refreshing, like some kind of fruit, and mixed with the burn, it was somehow indescribably... delicious.

Satoru Gojo's eyes lit up.

"This... actually tastes pretty good!"

Reassured, he tilted his head back and began drinking in big gulps.

Gulp, gulp, gulp-

Half the bottle was soon gone.

Watching him, Wana couldn't help warning him.

"Slow down!"

Satoru Gojo lowered the bottle, a little wine still clinging to the corner of his mouth.

"It's fine! I can hold my liquor!"

Wana eyed him doubtfully.

He'd been afraid to drink a moment ago, and now he claimed he could hold his liquor?

Was this guy reliable at all?

Time ticked by.

The night outside grew darker, and moonlight streamed through the window, coating the room in silver.

The six of them sat together, drinking and chatting.

Satoru Gojo recounted embarrassing childhood stories from the Gojo Clan, making Wana laugh so hard she couldn't sit straight.

Suguru Geto shared his experience of subduing his first cursed spirit, his gentle voice tinged with emotion.

Xian Di, who rarely spoke, offered a few facts about the tea ceremony that left everyone blinking in bewilderment.

Zhiyan remained quiet, simply listening and occasionally looking at Shoko.

Shoko leaned against Zhiyan, holding her bottle and drinking in small sips. Moonlight fell across her face, bathing her profile in a soft glow. Her eyes curved with a faint smile on her lips, and she looked gentler than usual.

As Zhiyan watched her, his expression softened without his realizing it.

Then he lowered his head and looked at the bottle in his hand.

Half of it was already gone.

He didn't actually like drinking much. But Shoko did, so he kept her company.

More time passed.

The room grew considerably quieter.

Of the six of them, only Shoko was still drinking.

Her tolerance was astonishing. She had nearly finished her sixth bottle, yet her face was only slightly flushed, and her gaze remained clear.

The others were a different story.

Zhiyan leaned against the wall, holding a bottle with a third left, his gaze somewhat unfocused. His face was faintly flushed, his brows slightly furrowed, and his eyes rested on Shoko as though something troubled him.

What troubled him?

The fact that he couldn't rein her in.

After all those bottles today, she could still sit perfectly steadily, without so much as a flushed face or racing heart.

And he... this was only his third bottle.

But he was already a little dizzy.

Wana slumped over the table, her face buried in her arms, leaving only her half-closed eyes visible. Her cheeks were rosy, like ripe apples, and she was still muttering something under her breath.

Suguru Geto leaned against the back of his chair, his eyes half closed and that gentle smile still on his lips. Though his face wasn't noticeably red, he looked completely different from usual.

Xian Di sat upright, his insulated cup replaced by a wine bottle. His face was also faintly flushed as he thought that this wine wasn't bad either.

As for Satoru Gojo...

He lay facedown on the table, motionless.

He had been that way for a long time.

Wana groggily raised her head and looked beside her.

Satoru Gojo was still sprawled there, his white hair scattered across the tabletop.

He hadn't made a sound in ages.

Wana frowned.

Had this guy passed out drunk?

She reached out and poked his shoulder.

"Hey, Satoru Gojo?"

No response.

She poked him again.

"Hey!"

Still no response.

Wana was just about to poke harder when suddenly-

Satoru Gojo shot upright.

"Whoa-!"

Wana was so startled she nearly jumped off her cushion.

Her eyes widened as she stared at him.

Satoru Gojo sat there, staring straight ahead.

His face was red.

As red as a cooked shrimp.

His eyes were normally arrogant and overbearing, but now a thin mist veiled them, leaving them dewy like a lake at dawn. His lashes trembled slightly, a faint blush colored the corners of his eyes, and he looked...

He looked...

Wana froze.

She stared at him like that.

Cute?

She actually thought he was cute?

She quickly turned away, not daring to look again.

But no matter what she did, she couldn't calm her racing heart.

She raised a hand and fanned herself.

Strange. What was with this wine?

Why did she feel hotter the more she drank?

She didn't notice that her face had grown even redder.

Meanwhile, Zhiyan was watching Shoko with a troubled look.

Shoko was still drinking.

She had already opened her seventh bottle and was taking little sips.

Zhiyan's brows drew tighter.

He couldn't rein her in.

He really couldn't.

He was wondering how to persuade her to drink less when he suddenly heard a voice.

It was very soft, like someone talking in their sleep.

But Zhiyan's ears instantly pricked up.

"Phase... twilight..."

Zhiyan froze.

He whipped his head around toward the voice.

Satoru Gojo sat there, his gaze unfocused and his lips moving faintly.

"Eyes of wisdom..."

Zhiyan's expression changed instantly.

He rushed over faster than the eye could follow and clamped a hand over Satoru Gojo's mouth.

"Mmph-!"

Satoru Gojo's voice cut off abruptly.

At the same time, Xian Di moved too.

He sprang up from his upright seat, stepped behind Satoru Gojo, and locked both hands tightly around his arms.

Satoru Gojo struggled once, but couldn't move.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph-"

His eyes widened as he looked indignantly at Zhiyan, who was covering his mouth, then at Xian Di, who was pinning his arms, with an innocent expression.

That expression plainly asked-

What are you doing?

Zhiyan ignored him.

He simply kept his hand firmly over Satoru Gojo's mouth, fine beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

Xian Di was no different, veins faintly pulsing at his temples.

A few seconds.

They had only been a few seconds away.

Had they been a few seconds later, he would have finished reciting the incantation for "Blue."

Had he finished that incantation, Satoru Gojo, in his current state, wouldn't have been able to properly control his cursed energy.

And if he couldn't control his cursed energy, that blast of "Blue"-

Might have reduced the entire dormitory building to rubble.

Zhiyan took a deep breath, then another.

He looked at Xian Di.

Xian Di looked back at him.

Their eyes met, and each saw the same thing in the other's gaze-

The relief of having narrowly escaped disaster.

And-

Utter helplessness.

When other people got drunk, the worst they did was hit someone, curse, or make a tearful scene.

When Satoru Gojo got drunk, he chanted incantations.

Was he trying to blow up the dorm?

Wana watched from the side, utterly bewildered.

"Brother, what are you doing?"

Zhiyan didn't answer.

He still covered Satoru Gojo's mouth, not daring to let go.

Wana asked again.

"What's wrong with him?"

Suguru Geto had sobered up a little by then too, and he watched the scene in confusion.

"Gojo... what did he just say?"

Zhiyan still gave no answer.

Neither did Xian Di.

They just held Satoru Gojo firmly in place, refusing to let him make another sound.

Shoko set down her bottle and tilted her head at them.

"What... are you guys playing?"

Zhiyan looked at her.

His eyes were filled with a deep sense of... grievance!

He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, he only sighed.

Forget it.

Anyway-

The danger had passed.

He slowly took his hand away from Satoru Gojo's mouth.

Satoru Gojo immediately protested.

"Why were you covering my mouth?!"

His voice was still drunken and slurred, his gaze still unfocused.

But at least he wasn't chanting anymore.

Zhiyan looked at him in silence for a few seconds.

Then he spoke.

"You almost blew this place up."

Satoru Gojo blinked.

"...What?"

Zhiyan didn't explain any further.

He simply withdrew his hand, leaned back against the wall, and let out a long breath.

Xian Di also let go, sat back down in his seat, and sighed.

Wana watched them, still looking utterly bewildered.

Suguru Geto glanced thoughtfully at Satoru Gojo, then at Zhiyan and Xian Di, and suddenly understood.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"...Gojo, were you about to use your cursed technique?"

Satoru Gojo blinked.

"Was I?"

Suguru Geto looked at him and fell silent.

This guy really was such a 'great' drunk.

"It's fine now," he said. "Go back to sleep."

Satoru Gojo paused, then nodded.

"Oh."

He slumped back onto the table and went back to sleep.

The room grew quiet.

Moonlight spilled through the window, falling over the six of them.

Shoko was still drinking.

Zhiyan stared at the ceiling, his eyes vacant.

Xian Di had his eyes closed, as though contemplating life.

Suguru Geto leaned back in his chair, that helpless smile still lingering on his lips.

Wana rested her head on the table and stole a glance at Satoru Gojo beside her.

He lay there with his white hair tousled, breathing steadily.

He was sleeping soundly.

Wana looked away and gazed at the moon outside the window.

Her heart was still beating a little fast.

She would remember what had happened tonight for a long time.

Especially that moment just now-those glistening eyes when he lifted his head.

He really was... kind of cute.

She quickly shook her head, banishing the thought.

I've lost it. I've totally lost it.

I must have had too much to drink.

That had to be it.

Outside the window, the moonlight flowed like water.