Ever since her days at Jujutsu High, Shoko had been famous at school for her drinking prowess. In any case, from the moment Suguru Geto had met her, he had never seen her drunk. Whether drinking one-on-one or taking on a whole group, Shoko had always been Tokyo Jujutsu High's "strongest."
And back when they were students, regardless of the occasion, whether it was a large gathering or just the two of them drinking in private to relieve stress, Shoko had always been the quietest one, the listener. At most, when she got worked up, she would gripe about Old Orange-Peels and those assholes from the Three Great Families.
But tonight, their roles seemed to have reversed. After Suguru Geto ordered drinks and food, he sat on the sofa, listening as Shoko chattered away, complaining nonstop.
From the idiotic things that bunch from the Three Great Families had done in the infirmary, to those unreasonable Old Orange-Peels, she eventually moved on to exactly how those Old Orange-Peels had made trouble for Tokyo Jujutsu High and Satoru Gojo.
Then she went on to describe just how Satoru Gojo had discovered that little bastard Sherlock, how he had recruited him into Tokyo Jujutsu High, the pair's everyday squabbles, and the outrageous things teacher and student had done together. She even recounted, bit by bit and in the same complaining tone, how Sherlock had threatened Old Orange-Peels and how they had targeted that devilish teacher-student duo.
When he heard how Sherlock had landed Satoru Gojo in a police station, Suguru Geto joined Shoko in slapping his thigh and roaring with laughter; when he heard how Satoru Gojo had only managed to coax Sherlock into Tokyo Jujutsu High through a teacher meet-and-greet, his expression turned exceedingly strange.
When he heard how that little bastard with a head full of fan appreciation events had almost given Satoru Gojo a grand debut in the adult entertainment industry, he laughed so hard he nearly crowed; when he heard about Sherlock and Satoru Gojo's argument, he looked grave and worried again.
Shoko barely looked at Suguru Geto the entire time. She simply drank one glass after another, cursing and complaining nonstop, yet there was not the slightest trace of dislike on her face.
There was no telling how much time had passed, or how much Shoko had drunk.
Finally, after finishing her complaints about how Satoru Gojo had suddenly appeared and brought her straight here, Shoko lay down on the sofa, her eyes unfocused and her whole body reeking of alcohol.
Shoko was drunk!
Looking at Shoko asleep on the sofa, utterly defenseless before him, Suguru Geto froze.
This was the first time in his life since meeting Shoko that he had seen her drunk, and she had passed out without the slightest guard up, right in front of him, a notorious Special Grade Curse User.
"Hey, Shoko, wake up. You're a drinking champion. How could you possibly get drunk?"
Utterly incredulous, Suguru Geto went over and poked the drunken Shoko's shoulder, seemingly trying to confirm whether she really had passed out, only for her to reflexively swat his hand away.
"What drinking champion? I was just cheating with Reverse Cursed Technique."
Half-asleep, Shoko instinctively mumbled those words, rolled over, and fell back into a deep sleep. Her answer, however, left Suguru Geto standing there stunned for a very, very long time.
Only after a long while did Suguru Geto reveal an exceptionally gentle smile. Looking at Shoko passed out on the sofa, he spoke with helpless affection.
"Honestly, you should at least keep your guard up a little around me."
After saying that, however, Suguru Geto fell silent. His expression was exceedingly strange, nostalgia seemingly mingled with a little apprehension, and even a hint of doubt about his own righteous cause.
Silence fell over the room once more. All that remained were the sounds of Suguru Geto lighting cigarettes and swallowing alcohol alone.
No one knew what Suguru Geto thought about that night, nor what struggles took place in his heart. Only when the eastern sky began to turn pale did he find a fresh men's yukata in the room and change into it.
He gently draped the women's yukata with its jumble of patterns over Shoko. His body heat still lingered in the fabric.
As though sensing the warmth, Shoko burrowed into the roomy yukata like a little panda that had finally found a nest, sleeping all the more soundly.
Looking at Shoko's exceptionally peaceful, even unguarded sleeping face, Suguru Geto wore an incredibly complicated expression. He stared at her face for a while before speaking softly.
"Thank you for everything back then, Shoko, looking after both me and Satoru."
As though she had heard Suguru Geto in her sleep, or perhaps dreamed of something wonderful, the corners of Shoko's lips lifted a little. Unfortunately, Suguru Geto did not notice this little happiness she had kept hidden.
After a brief pause, Suguru Geto gave a helpless sigh and continued.
"I'm sorry, Shoko. I may not be able to turn back anymore."
After saying that, Suguru Geto took one last look at Shoko, turned, and walked toward the window. He summoned a flying Cursed Spirit outside, jumped straight onto its back, and flew away.
Before leaving, he even remembered to carefully close the window for Shoko.
"Idiot!"
Shoko seemed to have woken up, yet also seemed not to have. Mumbling that single word, she rolled over and curled up completely on the sofa.
No one knew whether Shoko had merely been talking in her sleep or had truly heard Suguru Geto's final farewell.
Only when the sun was high in the sky did the room, littered with bottles and food scraps, receive a second person again.
Sherlock.
The instant Sherlock, his face swollen like a pig's head, entered the room through his Cursed Technique, he was stunned by the sight inside. His sudden appearance also startled Shoko awake.
Looking at Sherlock's face, swollen like a pig's head, Shoko made no mention of the previous night and merely regarded him with a little distaste.
"Did that bastard Satoru Gojo finally remember me? Sherlock, you certainly took your time getting here."
Faced with Shoko's utterly merciless complaints, Sherlock instantly burst into tears and began defending himself, feeling terribly wronged.
"Heaven'sh my witnesh, I'd on'y jusht woken up from bein' unconshush when Teacher Gojo shent me over here to work!!!"
???
A string of question marks popped up over Shoko's head at Sherlock's deeply aggrieved defense. Only after thinking hard for quite a while did she barely manage to decipher what he had said.
Heaven's my witness, I'd only just woken up from unconsciousness when Teacher Gojo sent me over here to work?
Remembering how she had merely kept Sherlock alive yesterday before running off to soak in the hot springs, without fully healing all his injuries, Shoko felt somewhat guilty. She beckoned him over, the white Cursed Energy of Reverse Cursed Technique lighting up in her hand once more, and began treating him.
Only after quite some time did Sherlock's face, which Satoru Gojo had beaten so badly that even his own mother might not have recognized him, barely look human again.
Looking at the aggrieved Sherlock, Shoko spoke earnestly.
"Sherlock, you really should learn Reverse Cursed Technique as soon as possible."
"??? Shoko, have you already started finding me a nuisance?"
"No, Sherlock, you keep courting death like this. If you can't learn Reverse Cursed Technique, I suspect sooner or later you'll actually get yourself killed..."
"..."