Young Love

"Ha... that really does sound like something that bastard would say. I can practically picture it."

Yuki Tsukumo grumbled as she quickly pulled out her phone, her fingertips swiping rapidly across the screen.

"Wait... Satoru Gojo actually blocked me! Damn him, how dare he!

But little Utahime actually said yes?!

I've only met her a few times, but from what I remember, he was always teasing her until she practically jumped up and down in anger."

"If she truly hated him and couldn't stand it, then with Miss Utahime's personality, she probably would have left Jujutsu Society long ago and stayed far away."

Dio offered his analysis.

"Incidentally, according to Principal Yaga, she stayed single until she was thirty...

Perhaps she really was waiting for someone."

"Ooooh!"

Yuki's eyes lit up. Her earlier frustration at being "the only one still single" was instantly replaced by a burning hunger for gossip.

"True love finally wins out! Just hearing this huge piece of news makes coming back completely worth it!"

"Speaking of which," Dio said, smoothly steering the conversation elsewhere, "are you planning to attend Geto's wedding in a few days?"

"What?!" Yuki was shocked all over again, her voice rising an entire octave. "When did that get decided?! He didn't invite me either!"

"Don't be upset," Dio soothed her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "He only announced it publicly yesterday. It's perfectly normal that you didn't know."

Then, subtly yet effortlessly, he circled back to his original question:

"Now, can you answer my earlier question about how old you are?

In exchange, I'll go first-I'm twenty-five."

"Even if you tell me..." Yuki pursed her lips, but couldn't help laughing. "It's still a secret!

Director, has no one ever told you that you can't ask a woman her age outright?"

"I get the feeling..." Dio studied her lively face, free of any shadow, "that you're not the type to care about things like that."

"I. Do. Care!" Yuki Tsukumo grabbed Dio's shoulders and stressed every word.

Then she deflated like a punctured balloon and, with a hint of resignation, spilled her own secret:

"Anyway... I'm already over thirty too.

Every passing year feels like a reminder asking, 'Why aren't you married yet?'

I've even made up my mind. No matter what, I'm going to get married before I turn forty!"

After that overly frank, almost tragic "declaration," the two fell into a brief silence.

They were so close that their breaths almost mingled, and a subtle, indescribable atmosphere spread through the air.

Both turned their heads away in slight discomfort, just in time to see a server approaching with a tray.

At that moment, the air seemed to congeal into a thick liquid, making even breathing a little difficult.

Under their simultaneous scrutiny, the innocent server broke into a sweat, movements turning stiff.

"Thank you. Just put the tray there. We'll get it ourselves in a moment," Dio said first, breaking the frozen atmosphere.

"Ah, o-okay! Thank you for your patronage!"

As though granted a reprieve, the server quickly set down the tray of ice-cold beer and fled the oppressive atmosphere in tiny, hurried steps, almost bowing the entire way.

"So..." Dio turned back toward Yuki Tsukumo, who was still holding his shoulders and standing extremely close.

"Hm?" She blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

"Would you like to try going on a proper date?" He said it almost in a whisper, so softly that it sounded like he was talking to himself.

"When?" Yuki asked almost immediately. There was no hint of refusal in her voice; if anything, there was a faint trace of anticipation.

Huh, she actually looks pretty happy about it?

"Does that mean yes?" Dio asked to confirm.

"Don't make the girl say it first!"

Yuki let go of his shoulders and lightly swatted his arm, her tone carrying a coy reproach that even she might not have noticed.

"Just hurry up and decide when and where!"

"Oh, okay." Dio readily obliged and thought for a moment. "Then... how about Tokyo Disneyland tomorrow?

I've never been to Disneyland."

"...Neither have I," she answered quietly.

"No boy ever invited you, even growing up?" Dio asked, a little surprised.

"Before I became a professional sorcerer... some did."

Yuki's gaze dimmed for a moment, and her hands unconsciously clasped together.

"But I turned them all down."

"Why?"

"Because..."

She took a deep breath, her gaze wandering. She had clearly sunk into memories of profound isolation.

"I'm a Star Plasma Vessel, a 'sacrifice' destined to be offered to Tengen.

Because of that identity, and because of my dangerous Cursed Technique, which could create a 'black hole' and destroy the entire world if I accidentally used too much power...

I used to have a very strong self-destructive streak.

I felt that if sacrificing myself could solve a problem, I would do it without hesitation.

When I couldn't even be sure my own life would last until tomorrow, how could I dare hope for romance and drag someone else down with me?

All I could do was keep comforting myself, telling myself things were fine that way."

Dio looked into her eyes as he reached out and gently laid his hand over her clasped hands, sharing his warmth with her.

"Your power can't hurt anyone.

So please, don't hide away somewhere to work through your feelings alone anymore. From now on, you can leave them to me."

Yuki Tsukumo stared at him. A clear sheen of tears slowly welled up in those eyes that always held a hearty smile or a carefree irreverence.

Then a smile brighter, more genuine, and freer of shadows than any she had ever worn blossomed on her face.

"I'm so glad..." Her voice caught a little. "Then I'll be counting on you."

At that very moment-

Dio distinctly sensed a strong, strange tremor from the Reverse Life Tree within his soul.

Almost instinctively, he silently uttered, The World.

Time stop activated.

The strands of hair fluttering over her shoulders, the bubbles rising through the beer, the birds sweeping past the window...

And the smile on Yuki Tsukumo's face, as though an immense burden had been lifted and she was filled with pure anticipation for the future, were all frozen forever within that single frame.

Dio quietly gazed at the frozen moment. The vitality, the relief, and the hope of a new beginning in that smile were so dazzling, so... beautiful.

He felt some mysterious "gauge" quietly filling within him.

"I see. So that's how it is..."

Dio murmured to himself, pure appreciation and sudden understanding shining in his eyes.

"So beautiful!"

Progress on the "beauty" element had increased by one-tenth!