The lesser of two evils

Aikawa Kaze reluctantly pursed his lips after getting knocked on the head, feeling that the atmosphere he had worked so hard to create had been ruined.

But when Suguru Geto merely glared murderously without actually leaving, Aikawa Kaze knew his persuasion was working.

Of course, with Satoru Gojo showing blatant favoritism toward his best friend, he would have to adjust his tone.

He had done enough provoking anyway. It was time to ease off a little.

"I can't say I know Gojo Sensei very well, but if he's willing to protect and support even a student he barely knows like me, surely he'd be even more forgiving toward his own friend?"

Despite the knock on his head from Satoru Gojo, that minor issue was nothing compared to the sense of security and other benefits the man gave him.

So Aikawa Kaze was entirely sincere in singing Satoru Gojo's praises.

Even now, after Suguru Geto had become a Special Grade curse user, Satoru Gojo still hadn't given up on saving him.

At least until Suguru Geto did something irreversible, the wielder of the six eyes had kept trying to bring him back.

But even if Satoru Gojo was the Strongest, he could only save someone willing to let him!

Suguru Geto had been the first to reject his outstretched hand.

Honestly, to Aikawa Kaze, that was stupidity taken to the extreme.

If he had a buddy as strong and as loyal as Satoru Gojo, he would definitely have roped him into stirring things up together!

Why be like Suguru Geto, saying nothing and brooding alone until he broke himself? What was the point?

"If you're willing to speak honestly about how you feel and talk about your dreams for the future, then even if Gojo Sensei won't do everything your way, he'll definitely help you think of a better solution, right?"

Suguru Geto's gaze instinctively shifted toward the unusually quiet Satoru Gojo. The moment he met those azure eyes, he looked away in discomfiture.

He knew Aikawa Kaze was right.

As long as he showed a desire to communicate, Satoru Gojo would never turn him away. He had been the one to reject Satoru Gojo's help.

"Ha... haha..."

Suguru Geto covered his face and couldn't help laughing, though his expression held a hint of sorrow.

He had always believed he was convincing himself that he had abandoned everything to pursue his righteous cause. But now, that flimsy veil of self-deception had been punctured.

Satoru Gojo had once been the dear friend who fought beside him, the companion who understood him, and the goal he strove to catch up to. That was why he couldn't set aside his pride and shame to "ask him for help."

It wasn't even that difficult a thing to do.

Although Aikawa Kaze didn't understand Suguru Geto's "stubbornness" in this regard, everyone was their own person and did things differently. There was no forcing it, so he considerately made a concession.

"You don't have to feel too bad. It's fine if you can't say it. I can say it, anyway."

After a moment's thought, Aikawa Kaze spoke in a surprisingly cheerful tone.

"Think about the happy stuff. At least Gojo Sensei will definitely agree with our shared dream. At least you can still achieve half of your righteous cause. As for the other half, throwing it away would be pretty good too."

"I..."

"Help me! Gojo Sensei, the one and only, coolest, handsomest, strongest, most badass, utterly invincible teacher in heaven and earth!"

Aikawa Kaze looked at Satoru Gojo with sparkling eyes.

"No problem! After all, I'm the reliable, invincible Gojo Sensei!"

Satoru Gojo nodded, watching Aikawa Kaze's ingratiating act with interest.

He had never expected Aikawa Kaze to have this mode, somewhere between "cute" and "affected," besides his polite and crazy sides. After agreeing to his adorable student's request, he instinctively raised his camera and snapped several pictures.

"Mm-hmm~ I never knew Kaze had such a cute side. If I show these to Yuta, Maki, and Toge when we get back, their expressions should be pretty entertaining, right?"

Even Aikawa Kaze stiffened at that. Didn't this mean he, a self-proclaimed dependable adult, was going to embarrass himself in front of his classmates?!

Wait, Gojo Sensei didn't mention Panda just now. Could Panda be nearby?

He suddenly felt a wave of social mortification.

But as an adult who had spent time out in the real world, he quickly adjusted his mindset.

Anyone who had been around knew that having a thicker skin made life easier and happier. Just look at Satoru Gojo.

As the saying went, if I'm not embarrassed, everyone else will be.

Having set his mind straight in less than a second, Aikawa Kaze smiled at the camera.

"Have you finished taking pictures, Gojo Sensei? Would you like me to change poses for a few more?"

Satoru Gojo: Oh? This kid's pretty quick on his feet.

Aikawa Kaze: Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm. At a time like this, all you have to do is smile!

Seeing Aikawa Kaze smile openly, looking genuinely ready to keep posing without the slightest trace of embarrassment or discomfort, Satoru Gojo lowered the phone he had been taking pictures with, bored.

The whole point of doing this was to enjoy the other person's mortified expression!

If the person in question didn't care, took it in stride, and even enjoyed it, then there was no fun in it.

Who would have thought Aikawa Kaze was an expert at this too!

Satoru Gojo marveled briefly at how quickly his student had grown, comparing him to the prickly, shy, introverted little brat at home...

His own kid really was more entertaining.

Seeing that Satoru Gojo had given up on taking more pictures, Aikawa Kaze subtly curved his lips and turned toward the speechless Suguru Geto.

"What were you about to say, Mr. Geto?"

"..."

Suguru Geto's mouth twitched. He really had steeled himself just now, ready to throw caution to the wind and "ask" Satoru Gojo for help.

Although Satoru might not agree and might even mock him, whether he asked or not was a matter of attitude, proof of his "resolve" to pursue his righteous cause with everything he had.

However, after watching that childish "exchange" between the two of them...

Suguru Geto closed his eyes in anguish. Having to "ask for help" from someone like this was simply too humiliating!

He could let Aikawa Kaze over there slide, since the boy was an energetic teenage high schooler. But Satoru Gojo, you were twenty-seven this year, not seventeen, and certainly not seven!

His face a mask of misery, Suguru Geto fell silent for a while. His lips moved, and finally, as though giving up, he looked at Aikawa Kaze.

The lesser of two evils.

"And then?"

The question seemed to come out of nowhere, but the other two people in the room both understood.

Aikawa Kaze's lips curled smugly, while Satoru Gojo looked at Suguru Geto in shock, as though he had been betrayed.

"Geto, are you okay? You'd rather ask him than the miraculous, all-powerful Satoru Gojo?!"

"Ahem. Since we're all good on the first step, let's talk about the second."

Aikawa Kaze's eyes shone startlingly bright as he pulled out his phone.

"First, let's watch a movie! Have you heard of mutants?"

"???"