"I'll head out first. That dessert shop is really hard to buy from, so I need to talk to the owner first. I'll leave the fruit and things for Junpei's mom to you! Send me your location when you're done shopping, and I'll come find you!"
[Xiao Ba, hurry up and just buy the place!]
[I'm talking to them right now.]
"Okay, go on."
Before Nobara Kugisaki had even finished speaking, I disappeared right in front of them.
"...Uh, can Edano use Teleportation now?"
"Looks like it."
[Xiao Ba, Nagi Yoshino is so thoughtful. I have to find a way to save her. And if I save her, Junpei won't turn evil either, right...?]
[Sweetie, we can find a way to stay tonight!]
Thinking of Nanami's stern face and a tearful Ijichi, I shuddered.
[Ugh, Nanami and the others won't agree. Besides, everyone's here today. We can't possibly all stay over.]
Aaaah, this is so annoying! Wait, don't I have Satoru Gojo's souvenir? I can pretend I left it behind and come back to get it!
Sorry about this, Gojo-sensei!
[You're so clever, sweetie. That's my host for you~]
That tone was way too gushy. Gross~
[Side quest issued to host: Save Nagi Yoshino and prevent Junpei Yoshino from turning completely evil.] [Quest reward: Extremely low-spec Six Eyes (allows basic 360-degree X-ray vision).]
By the time I arrived at Junpei's house with Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki, it was already dark. The house, usually rather quiet, was now filled with laughter.
"Sorry for the wait!" We changed out of our shoes at the entrance, then saw Yuji Itadori laughing so hard he was practically draped over Junpei Yoshino.
"Hahahahahahaha! Oh, you're here! Come sit, come sit!" Nagi Yoshino was the first to notice us standing dumbly in the doorway and quickly waved us over.
"Keep going, keep going! What happened next?"
"Oh, Edano, you're finally here! Anyway, Aaron said with complete confidence, 'This is the larva of an invasive species. It might be poisonous, so nobody touch it!' But when he picked it up for a closer look..."
"It was a konjac strip from the cafeteria lunch!" Yuji Itadori picked up a konjac strip from the table to demonstrate, sending Nagi Yoshino into another fit of laughter.
Still laughing, Nagi Yoshino waved us over. "Hahahahahahaha! Did you hear that? A konjac strip! It was a konjac strip!"
Junpei Yoshino looked embarrassed. "Mom, you've had too much to drink."
"Oh, but Yuji is just so funny! Hahahahaha!"
Nobara Kugisaki leaned close and whispered, "This guy really makes himself at home anywhere."
"Hey, isn't that a good thing? Let's all loosen up a little. Especially you, Megumi. Stop being so tense all the time, or you'll turn into a little old man~"
"Huh? Hahahahaha, now that you mention it, I can totally see Fushiguro doing that! Hahahahahahaha!"
Megumi Fushiguro's face darkened. "...Seriously, that's enough." There was a distinct edge of gritted teeth in his voice.
"Here, use this for your performance!" Nagi Yoshino produced a wooden plate from somewhere and handed it to Yuji Itadori.
Then the scene turned into...
"Wilson, Wilson! Forgive me, Wilson!" Yuji Itadori had already launched into his performance, holding up the wooden plate and sobbing his heart out.
"Pfft!" ×4
I nearly spat out the mouthful of water I hadn't managed to swallow. Nobara and Megumi Fushiguro beside me weren't much better off, both nearly choking, while Junpei Yoshino outright sprayed his drink.
"Cough, cough, cough cough cough, cough cough." Forcing that water down had sent me into a violent coughing fit. Megumi Fushiguro frowned and patted my back, while Nobara poured me another cup of water and handed it over.
"Have a drink and catch your breath. You're the only one who choked this badly!"
"Cough, cough... I couldn't help it. Yuji was just being way too ridiculous..."
"Okay, he really was..."
"..."
"It's fire! It's fire!" Yuji Itadori abandoned the round wooden plate and picked up a green onion, launching into another performance with a savage expression.
"..."
Dumbstruck ×3
"...Megumi, just how far off the deep end has Yuji gone? He's even imitating Ryomen Sukuna now."
"...He really does look like him."
"Hahaha, hahahahahaha." Junpei Yoshino laughed until tears came to his eyes.
Nagi Yoshino left the table too, squeezing in beside us and putting an arm around my shoulders. "This is so nice. It's been ages since I saw Junpei laugh this happily."
I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Yuji hasn't laughed this happily in ages either. He's been under so much pressure lately..."
Sensing there was more behind my words, Nagi Yoshino tactfully changed the subject. "It's getting late. That's enough for now. I'll bring out the dish that's been simmering in the pot. Time to eat~"
"Yay! We've all been wanting to try Auntie's cooking!" Nobara Kugisaki stood up too, and we went to help carry the dishes out.
She's such a wonderful Auntie. I have to save her! Tonight, I'm staying near their house, and I'm not leaving!!!
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Junpei Yoshino helped a tipsy Nagi Yoshino back to her room.
"Your mom is such a lovely person, Junpei. And so are you~"
"Mm." Junpei Yoshino nodded slightly, a shy smile curving his lips.
Just then, "Ring, ring! Ring, ring!"
"Yuji Itadori speaking. Mr. Ijichi, what's up?" Yuji Itadori picked up his phone and answered.
He was probably calling to hurry us back.
"Oh, we won't be done that soon. Probably another hour or two!"
"Two hours-!" Yuji Itadori quietly held the phone farther away. Ijichi's horrified shout was perfectly audible even without speakerphone.
Once Ijichi had mostly calmed down, I took the phone. "Mr. Ijichi, don't worry. I'm here too, and so are Megumi and Nobara!"
That only earned an even louder shout. "What-!!! Mr. Fushiguro and Miss Kugisaki are there too!!! Mr. Gojo and Mr. Nanami are going to kill me-!"
I jolted in alarm and quietly held the phone farther away too...
In the end, the most reliable one among us, Megumi Fushiguro, took the phone. "How about this, Mr. Ijichi? Come pick us up in an hour. We need to help clean up now."
It looked like Ijichi had finally calmed down...
Megumi Fushiguro hung up. "All right, let's start cleaning."
"Mm-hmm!" Three heads bobbed like chicks pecking at grain.
"Oh yeah, we're finally done!" I happily wiggled my hips and flashed a victory sign.
Yuji Itadori obligingly flashed a victory sign too.
"Oh, Junpei, your clothes got dirty!" I grabbed his sleeve and thought back for a moment. "[Cleanse]."
The next instant, the stain on his sleeve vanished, and his entire outfit looked as clean as new.
"Uh, then why did we bother wiping the table? Oh, I see how it is, Edano. You had a handy trick and kept it to yourself!" As she spoke, Nobara Kugisaki advanced on me to tickle me.
"Ah! Pfft, hahahaha, hahahahahaha! Don't, don't! Nobara, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just forgot for a moment! Hahahahaha, stop tickling me!"
Watching us fool around, Megumi Fushiguro pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation. "Okay, that's enough. It's getting late. Time to go."
No, it's still too early! If I leave this soon, what excuse am I supposed to use to come back later?
Before you continue