You're Not Planning to Twist My Head Off and Kick It Around Like a Ball, Are You?

The infirmary suddenly grew quiet. Satoru Gojo pinched the bridge of his nose, anger threading through his voice.

"Do you have any idea how stupid that was?! Do you know what would've happened if I hadn't gotten there in time..."

When Satoru Gojo arrived, the girl had lost all reason and was surrounded by sorcerers sent by the higher-ups. Blood gushed out as a Cursed Tool pierced her abdomen, instantly staining his entire field of vision red. Yet through that bloody mist, he could clearly see two trails of bloody tears flowing from her unfocused, almost pure-white eyes.

He appeared behind her and knocked her unconscious with a single palm strike, blocked the sorcerers' attacks, then scooped her up and went to find Shoko.

The girl lay quietly in his arms, her eyes tightly shut and her face so pale it was almost translucent, with only her thick black lashes resting against it. Her lips had no trace of color, and her Jujutsu High uniform was soaked in blood.

Satoru Gojo seemed to lose all his strength at once. He sank into the chair beside my hospital bed. "...Don't make your teacher worry."

My eyes lit up. Feeling ridiculously flattered, I teased, "Oh, so you're worried about me, sir!"

Satoru Gojo said nothing. He simply pulled down his blindfold and gazed quietly at me with azure eyes that seemed to blend into the sky. I took that as confirmation.

After a long silence in the infirmary, Satoru Gojo broke the quiet. "The higher-ups sentenced you to death, but your teacher saved you, Edano~"

"Huh??? Why am I getting the death penalty? Mr. Gojo, I think there's still hope for me..." I'd only just woken up, and now I was finding out I'd been sentenced to death. It felt like I could already see the end of my life...

"Here's what happened..."

The higher-ups' meeting room.

Satoru Gojo kicked open the door to the higher-ups' meeting room, swaggered inside, and pulled out a random chair to sit down.

"Satoru Gojo!"

"Calm down. I'm not here to kill anyone today."

"So you're saying you want to secretly execute my student?"

"Of course!"

"She's a Curse User in the making!"

"A secret execution is already the greatest mercy we can offer her!"

"She nearly killed so many sorcerers!"

An even older voice interrupted the others. "...Enough. Takechi has an unidentified curse within her. By unanimous judgment of the higher-ups, she has been classified as an uncontrollable threat and is hereby sentenced to immediate execution."

"Huh? What could you possibly judge? You're just afraid she'll grow strong enough to threaten your interests."

Satoru Gojo lifted his blindfold, revealing one of his Six Eyes, dazzling as a sapphire. "Or are you questioning my Six Eyes?"

Blue Cursed Energy surged around him with a savage aura, sweeping through the entire meeting room the moment he finished speaking. The oppressive force unique to Satoru Gojo made everyone present feel as though an invisible hand had closed around their throats.

The higher-ups hiding behind the screens all understood perfectly well that he could slaughter everyone present with ease.

"..."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Simple. Revoke the execution and make it a suspended sentence until she can fully control the power of the curse inside her. Unless you want me to start a massacre here."

"Very well, but..."

"Sir, you can't! She's nothing but an orphan girl. Even if..." Before he could finish, his head exploded. Yes, literally exploded.

"...There are three conditions. First, she may not act alone. A guarantor or temporary supervisor must accompany her and monitor her condition at all times."

"I'll be her guarantor. When I'm not there, my students will be."

"Second, those eyes capable of beguiling others must be sealed. Outside of combat, she must obtain permission from her guarantor or supervisor before removing the seal."

At this point, he deliberately raised his head to steal a look at Satoru Gojo's expression.

"...Third, she must wear a white uniform to distinguish her from the others. She will be placed on Jujutsu High's high-risk list and kept under constant supervision. If she kills innocents, she is to be executed immediately, and you must carry it out yourself."

"...Fine. I'll take good care of her."

"And that's what happened! Well? Well? Your teacher went to a lot of trouble to save you!"

Satoru Gojo was practically radiating sparkles. I felt like I was going to be blinded. You're the real little sun here, Satoru Gojo!

"Oh~ You're amazing, sir! Of course, once Mr. Gojo steps in, success is guaranteed!"

Hey, if the kid wants praise, I might as well give him some. What a smug teacher!

"Hmm? Is a verbal thank-you all I get, Edano?"

I ventured tentatively, "Huh? Then...how about I treat you to Kikufuku?"

"No, no, no, that's not enough!" Satoru Gojo shook his head and even reached out a finger to tap my head.

You know, Satoru Gojo's hands really are beautifully proportioned, with such long, slender fingers. What gorgeous hands. I want to chop them off and preserve them for my collection!

Wait, I'm getting off track.

Suddenly realizing something, I clutched my head in terror. "Mr. Gojo, you're not planning to twist my head off and kick it around like a ball, are you?!"

"Huh??!" Satoru Gojo had already spread his arms, but my words made his perfect features twist into a shocked expression. He still looked gorgeous, though!

"What are you thinking, Edano?! Your teacher isn't into anything that gruesome!!!" With that, he rapped his knuckles against my forehead in exasperation.

I covered my forehead, on the verge of tears. "Boohoo... Why do you all like hitting my forehead...?"

Satoru Gojo turned away in a sulk, looking just like a cat whose attempt to wheedle some petting had failed... Wait, a flash of inspiration struck me, and I seemed to realize something!

"...Do you want a hug, Mr. Gojo?"

"Well~ Since it's a request from my favorite student, naturally, I, the great hotshot teacher Satoru Gojo, have to oblige~"

As he spoke, I felt a light breeze happily fling itself into my arms.

...Then don't hug me, if you've got the guts.

After we'd hugged for quite a while, I said, "Uh, Mr. Gojo, I'm having a little trouble breathing. Could you let go for a moment?"

"No, no!" At that, Satoru Gojo only loosened his grip slightly, stubbornly burying his head in the crook of my neck and nuzzling hard. He felt the exhaustion from the past few busy days melt away all at once. Even the higher-ups didn't seem quite so annoying anymore...

Resigned, I gently patted his back, feeling his soft hair tickle my neck, and said softly, "Mr. Gojo must be a clingy kitty in human form."

Perhaps it was because his Six Eyes were no longer covered by his blindfold, but Satoru Gojo felt his brain was overloaded with information. Otherwise, why did he feel so dizzy, as though he were standing in a sea of flowers, their fresh fragrance filling his nose?

"...Mm, you need to go to bed early so you can grow as tall as your teacher, Edano. Otherwise, hugging you like this takes so much effort~"

"...There's no way I'll ever grow as tall as you!!!" Still, I quietly straightened my back to make myself a little taller.

I really am as considerate as ever!

"That's true. But you're pretty nice to hug as you are." Are all girls this soft? It's like she has no bones. She's so soft in my arms, without anything digging into me.

Where the girl couldn't see, Satoru Gojo's lips curved into a smile. He closed his eyes and savored the warmth.