After watching the chaos inside the classroom for a while, the two exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of nostalgia in the other's eyes.
As though they had made some unspoken agreement, they walked out of the teaching building side by side in perfect sync after that glance. Once outside, they did not even need to speak before Satoru Gojo plopped down on the bench beside the vending machine.
Shoko, meanwhile, walked over to the vending machine with both hands in the pockets of her white coat and, without the slightest hesitation, kicked the lower part of its side.
With that kick from Shoko, the vending machine that had been there since Gojo's student days shuddered a few times. Two crisp clunks followed, and two chilled cans of coffee dropped out.
The sight made the smile on Satoru Gojo's lips deepen.
Back when they were still students, he and Suguru Geto had discovered this little bug by accident and excitedly told Shoko about it. He had not expected her to remember it even now.
"Make do with this. You're out of luck this time. No juice came out, just coffee."
Watching Shoko take the two cans of coffee from the collection slot, plop down beside him, and casually hand him one, Satoru Gojo smiled even more brightly.
He took the coffee Shoko offered, opened it, and took a sip. As he tasted its bitterness and the sweetness mingled behind it, Satoru Gojo froze slightly.
Shoko also looked at Satoru Gojo in some surprise. With his sweet tooth, he had never been particularly fond of bitter things like coffee. Even when he did drink it, he would use enough sugar to turn a cup of coffee into "coffee syrup."
Yet now, he had opened the coffee she handed him and